Wellington - Five people have died of swine flu in New Zealand, the chief coroner Neil MacLean reported on Wednesday. He said a Christchurch man, 49, who suffered from asthma, died at the weekend, and a 46-year-old man from Blenheim, who had pre-existing health problems including obesity and had not seen a doctor for some time, died at home on July 1.
Both had contracted swine flu, also known as H1N1.
The health ministry said Tuesday that 1,195 cases of influenza H1N1 had been confirmed in New Zealand and 53 people were in hospital, 12 of them in intensive care.
But it said it was a mild illness for most people who recovered readily at home without needing medical treatment.
