Swine flu kills Camperdown school worker

COLAC'S Anthony Splatt, fondly known as a big man with a big smile, has become the first Victorian man to die of swine flu.Health officials yesterday confirmed the 35-year-old, who worked casually at Mercy Regional College in Camperdown, had medical problems including diabetes and a heart condition.He died from respiratory failure at a Melbourne hospital on Saturday night.College principal Andrew Watson would only confirm yesterday that a casual member of staff had died.Mr Splatt will be remembered by college staff and students as a gentle giant who could produce his hand-held computer at a moment's notice. He was employed one week in four to help with the school's information technology system.He had also worked at Colac's Trinity College.Mr Splatt was treasurer of the Colac Collectable Car Club, joining his father Brian and mother Judy at club functions with their much-loved 1986 Corvette.In recent years Mr Splatt had enjoyed poker tournaments across the south-west district - even qualifying for finals in Melbourne.His new hobby was reflected in a death notice placed by his parents and younger sister Samantha which referred to Mr Splatt as ``our ace of cards taken too soon''.His funeral will be held at Scots Presbyterian church in Colac tomorrow afternoon followed by a private cremation.Mr Splatt visited a Colac doctor last week after suffering from a bad cough. He was sent home where he collapsed on Thursday morning and was rushed to Colac hospital.Victoria's acting chief health officer, Dr Rosemary Lester, said he presented at Colac with an influenza-like illness.He was transferred to the intensive care unit at Maroondah Hospital on Friday.``Unfortunately, the man's condition deteriorated and he died on Saturday evening,'' Dr Lester said.The Department of Human Services was yesterday advised laboratory tests had confirmed he had the H1N1 influenza virus. ``This is a very tragic loss, but we should emphasise that what we have said is that, for people with underlying medical conditions, unfortunately influenza can be severe and in this case, unfortunately this is what has happened,'' Dr Lester said.``It is quite possible more people will die from swine flu.''Dr Lester said between 2500 and 3000 people died across Australia during a normal flu season.``We don't expect swine flu to be any different.''Dr Lester said five people were now in intensive care units across the state with another 13 in hospital wards receiving treatment for the virus.In the vast majority of cases, human swine flu was a mild illness people recovered from without any treatment.``However, we know that for people with chronic medical conditions, influenza can be severe.''Victoria has recorded 1406 positive cases of human swine flu.