Third swine flu death in Austria

A 41-year-old man from Bavaria, in southern Germany, died in Salzburg overnight, a hospital spokeswoman announed on Friday.

Austria reported its third swine flu-related death on Friday, even as health authorities said school closures were "no longer sensible" and the number of vaccinations eased up.

A 41-year-old man from Bavaria, in southern Germany, died in Salzburg overnight, a hospital spokeswoman announed on Friday.

The man, who was admitted to hospital three weeks ago in a critical condition after becoming infected with the A(H1N1) virus, died of sudden complications, including a brain haemorrhage, the hospital said.

Meanwhile, Austria's general director for public health, Hubert Hrabcik, argued Friday that school closures were "no longer sensible", as the virus had already spread widely among the population and keeping children at home would not protect them from swine flu.

The number of vaccinations also sank drastically this week after tens of thousands of Austrians had earlier stormed inoculation centres.

A voluntary vaccination campaign was launched on November 9.