Pneumonia seen in one of the lungs. Photo: ALAMY
A warning has been issued over a killer strain of pneumonia that is striking otherwise healthy flu sufferers, after half of cases for a whole year have been seen in just one month.
The disease can leave patients in a life-threatening condition within hours and up to three in four will die.
It typically strikes after a normal bout of flu and affects previously healthy middle-aged people.
Government scientists have recorded 18 cases of PVL community acquired pneumonia between December 6th and January 7th. Normally between 30 and 40 cases are seen in a whole year in the UK.
So far four peple have died.
It is not known what has caused the surge in cases.
The bug, with the full name Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus, is extremely virulent. It is carried on the skin of around three per cent of the population and usually causes boils and skin infections.
However it can enter the bloodstream and may travel to the lungs or get into the lungs following a bout of flu.
Once there it causes pneumonia and patients become critically ill very quickly.
They may cough up blood, have difficulty breathing and are extremely unwell, experts said.
The 18 cases have all needed intensive care and several required sophisticated life-support known as ECMO, where oxygen is pumped into the blood outside the body because the lungs are overwhelmed with infection.
The Telegraph has the full article
