TALLINN — Swine flu claimed another victim in Estonia last week when on 50-year old man died of complications from the virus.

On Nov. 29 the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs announced that a 50-year old man had died of pneumonia, but an autopsy revealed he had the A/H1N1 virus. According to the request by his family members, the ministry does not give any further information about the case.

Despite the second death, the ministry sees no reason to declare an epidemic. The Estonian Health Protection Inspectorate said there the number of all types of flu infections is stabilizing.

The inspectorate notified that the amount of people who turned to doctors was increased by 60 percent from Nov. 8-21, and last week the number of infected increased 37 percent from that. More than 13,000 people turned to doctors due to upper respiratory tract flu infections between Nov. 23 to Nov. 29, of which half were children. However, this is considered a normal increase in seasonal morbidity and the 2006-07 flu season remains the highest amount of infection, when more than 15,000 people in one week turned to doctors.

Meanwhile the Union of Estonian Family Doctors has proposed that the government set up a separate influenza clinic where people would for flu treatment, vaccination and information. It could also help reduce contagion as it would separate flu sufferers from regular patients.