N.L. chief medical officer Dr. Simon Avis says the province has seen fewer H1N1 deaths than expected because people are protecting themselves from the virus. (CBC)

Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical examiner says he believes the province has experienced few deaths directly related to swine flu because people have been taking preventative measures, such as washing their hands and getting vaccinations.

Health officials said Wednesday that 15 people who died in the province this fall were confirmed to have contracted the H1N1 virus but a review of their cases by Dr. Simon Avis, the province's chief medical examiner, found that influenza was only directly related to five of the deaths.

Earlier, it was believed that eight people had died from swine flu-related complications.

Avis said despite the lower number, people shouldn't think there has been an overreaction.

"Because we're not getting those deaths everyone's saying, 'Oh well, this is a dud, this is a false alarm,'" Avis told CBC News. "Perhaps the reason we're not getting the deaths is because [of] what public health has been doing," Avis said in reference to a health campaign urging people to wash their hands properly.

"What the public has been doing in response, is working."

Avis said the H1N1 influenza has had a serious impact on the province, keeping intensive care units at hospitals filled throughout the fall.

About one-third of the population of Newfoundland and Labrador has received the vaccine.