A TOP scientist last night dismissed fears over swine flu - claiming its death rate may even be LOWER than normal flu.
Bacteriologist Hugh Pennington said the virus - that has killed 54 people in Scotland - "had a lot more publicity than it deserved".
But he warned that H1N1 could still mutate into something far more deadly.
Prof Pennington said: "There's nothing terribly surprising about what it has done except it's not hit the elderly hard - where you'd normally find most flu deaths.
"That is one of the main reasons why there have been so relatively few deaths.
"There is some evidence that some of the elderly may have some protective antibodies from a flu outbreak in the 1950s or earlier. But it has hit kids - and it has also been very localised in its outbreaks."
The professor also claimed the Scottish Government's vaccination programme had not been a waste of money. He said: "The government's plan has worked well - but the virus has not behaved according to the plan.
"Governments have to plan for the worst. I don't think that the money has been wasted - but this virus has had a lot more publicity than it deserves.
"A lot of people - about 30 per cent - get infected and don't even have any symptoms or know they've got it."
But Prof Pennington added it was a "certainty" swine flu would mutate and become much more deadly. Already a new strain has emerged that is resistant to anti-viral drug Tamiflu, adding: "It needs constant monitoring." Figures reveal that 54 people died from swine flu, with 1,200 people being treated for the virus in hospital.
But more than 70 per cent of victims were already weakened by existing medical conditions.
And Health Protection Scotland believes the most recent infection stats show the current outbreak may have already peaked.
The number of people consulting their doctors for flu-like symptoms fell by 18 per cent in a single week and infection rates fell in every health board area except for Fife, where the numbers are stable.
Last night Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "With our vaccine programme well under way, we are likely to see a fall in infections - but that doesn't mean we can be complacent.
"I would encourage everyone in the priority groups to take advantage of the offer of vaccination."
Bacteriologist Hugh Pennington said the virus - that has killed 54 people in Scotland - "had a lot more publicity than it deserved".
But he warned that H1N1 could still mutate into something far more deadly.
Prof Pennington said: "There's nothing terribly surprising about what it has done except it's not hit the elderly hard - where you'd normally find most flu deaths.
"That is one of the main reasons why there have been so relatively few deaths.
"There is some evidence that some of the elderly may have some protective antibodies from a flu outbreak in the 1950s or earlier. But it has hit kids - and it has also been very localised in its outbreaks."
The professor also claimed the Scottish Government's vaccination programme had not been a waste of money. He said: "The government's plan has worked well - but the virus has not behaved according to the plan.
"Governments have to plan for the worst. I don't think that the money has been wasted - but this virus has had a lot more publicity than it deserves.
"A lot of people - about 30 per cent - get infected and don't even have any symptoms or know they've got it."
But Prof Pennington added it was a "certainty" swine flu would mutate and become much more deadly. Already a new strain has emerged that is resistant to anti-viral drug Tamiflu, adding: "It needs constant monitoring." Figures reveal that 54 people died from swine flu, with 1,200 people being treated for the virus in hospital.
But more than 70 per cent of victims were already weakened by existing medical conditions.
And Health Protection Scotland believes the most recent infection stats show the current outbreak may have already peaked.
The number of people consulting their doctors for flu-like symptoms fell by 18 per cent in a single week and infection rates fell in every health board area except for Fife, where the numbers are stable.
Last night Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "With our vaccine programme well under way, we are likely to see a fall in infections - but that doesn't mean we can be complacent.
"I would encourage everyone in the priority groups to take advantage of the offer of vaccination."
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