28th July 2009

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CORONER

There has been some concern expressed that the number of deaths possibly connected with H1N1 influenza differs between the Ministry of Health and my office.

The figures that are released by my office (as at 28July 2009 – 16 deaths) represent deaths which have been reported to a Coroner and jurisdiction accepted where there has been a positive virology result. It does not necessarily mean that the death was due to H1N1. In that sense when my office talks about confirmed deaths it simply means deaths where there has been positive virology results.

The number of suspected deaths (as at 28July - 17) are cases over and above the confirmed figure that have come to the attention of a Coroner and jurisdiction has been accepted where there are indications of flu like symptoms prior to death. When virology results, whether negative or positive, become known to the Coroner that death comes off the total of suspected deaths and either (if it is positive) adds to the number of confirmed deaths or (if negative) comes off the totals altogether.

The numbers advised by my office may differ from numbers coming from the Ministry of Health because some deaths where there were flu-like symptoms and/or positive swabs taken before death are known only to the certifying doctor and/or Virology Lab and in most cases because they are notifiable disease cases in due course by the Ministry of Health. However in the meantime Coroners and the frontline staff will continue to encourage Medical Practitioners to consult with a Coroner where there are indications that N1H1 may be present

There have been no final post mortem results received as at today with any comment on the linkage between the H1N1 virus and death. In other words did the virus directly or indirectly lead to or hasten death? Some provisional post mortem results which are usually available a day or so after an autopsy has been carried out have suggested quite strongly that there may be such a linkage but until the final post mortem is received (often weeks or sometimes months later) nothing more definitive can be said.

In conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Public Health officials, a process has been developed whereby each individual Coroner or Coroner’s Co-ordinator will, on receipt of a positive virology test, contact the members of the family that the Coroner has been dealing with to confirm the positive results. Arrangements have been put in place to let family members know of the appropriate public health contact if they want to have reassurance as to their own situation or what further steps should be taken.

The Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health and her staff and my office and my staff are in regular contact with each other.

Judge A N MacLean
Chief Coroner

ENDS
28th July 2009

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CORONER

There has been some concern expressed that the number of deaths possibly connected with H1N1 influenza differs between the Ministry of Health and my office.

The figures that are released by my office (as at 28July 2009 – 16 deaths) represent deaths which have been reported to a Coroner and jurisdiction accepted where there has been a positive virology result. It does not necessarily mean that the death was due to H1N1. In that sense when my office talks about confirmed deaths it simply means deaths where there has been positive virology results.

The number of suspected deaths (as at 28July - 17) are cases over and above the confirmed figure that have come to the attention of a Coroner and jurisdiction has been accepted where there are indications of flu like symptoms prior to death. When virology results, whether negative or positive, become known to the Coroner that death comes off the total of suspected deaths and either (if it is positive) adds to the number of confirmed deaths or (if negative) comes off the totals altogether.

The numbers advised by my office may differ from numbers coming from the Ministry of Health because some deaths where there were flu-like symptoms and/or positive swabs taken before death are known only to the certifying doctor and/or Virology Lab and in most cases because they are notifiable disease cases in due course by the Ministry of Health. However in the meantime Coroners and the frontline staff will continue to encourage Medical Practitioners to consult with a Coroner where there are indications that N1H1 may be present

There have been no final post mortem results received as at today with any comment on the linkage between the H1N1 virus and death. In other words did the virus directly or indirectly lead to or hasten death? Some provisional post mortem results which are usually available a day or so after an autopsy has been carried out have suggested quite strongly that there may be such a linkage but until the final post mortem is received (often weeks or sometimes months later) nothing more definitive can be said.

In conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Public Health officials, a process has been developed whereby each individual Coroner or Coroner’s Co-ordinator will, on receipt of a positive virology test, contact the members of the family that the Coroner has been dealing with to confirm the positive results. Arrangements have been put in place to let family members know of the appropriate public health contact if they want to have reassurance as to their own situation or what further steps should be taken.

The Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health and her staff and my office and my staff are in regular contact with each other.

Judge A N MacLean
Chief Coroner

ENDS

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