The information, released by Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson yesterday, came as the Government announced that all children under the age of five will now be vaccinated against the illness.

The death of a 57-year-old man in South Shields is believed to be the first to be linked to the virus in South Tyneside.

John Victor Nelson was found dead in his home in Hutton Row, Westoe Crown Village, last Thursday.

Further figures from NHS North East show 17 people are in hospital with swine flu symptoms in the South of Tyne and Wear area – a rise on the 13 on record last week.

But the number of anti-virals issued has fallen from 886 to 127.

Martin Wilson, director of flu resilience for NHS North East, said: "Although the number of anti-virals we are giving out to treat swine flu is reducing, some people who have been more severely affected by the symptoms are still in hospital.

"People who are likely to be most severely affected by the virus, including those who have a long-term health condition and pregnant women, are urged to have the swine flu vaccine as soon as possible."

Under-fives, who are three times as likely to end up in hospital with swine flu as those aged 16 to 64, will be prioritised after GPs have finishing vaccinating the other at-risk groups.

Sir Liam said there had been a "very striking increase" in the number of children under-five admitted to hospital.