Swine flu latest news

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Mon 20 July 2009

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20th Novemberv 2009

Healthy under-fives to get swine flu jab/ Group most at risk of being hospitalised

Healthy children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years will be vaccinated against swine flu starting from next month, the Department of Health has announced.

The vaccine is currently available only to children who are already in the high risk groups.

The news came as the number of new swine flu cases fell for the second week running. Last week an estimated 55,000 people were infected with the H1N1 virus in England compared with 64,000 the week before.

The number of people visiting their doctor with flu-like illness also dipped slightly to 36 per 100,000 people compared with 37.7 in the previous week, but still above baseline threshold levels for England.

To date, the number of deaths linked to the virus now stands at 215 - 142 in England, 39 in Scotland, 21 in Wales and 13 in N. Ireland. A total of 783 were admitted to hospital last week due to the virus, with 180 in intensive care.

The latest figures to be released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that young people in the 1-4 and 5-14 age groups continue to be the most affected by swine flu.

Approximately 21% of all swine flu deaths in the UK have occurred in the under-14s. Ominously, 80% of children in the under-5 age group who have needed hospital treatment had no underlying health problems.

Commenting on the plans to extend the vaccination programme to the under-5s, Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson, said: “Our first priority is to ensure that people with clinical risk factors, and frontline health and social care staff are vaccinated.

“Protecting those most at risk from the disease will reduce the levels of serious illness, and deaths. That’s why we will shortly offer the vaccine to young children.

“Vaccination remains a personal choice, but I urge everyone who is offered the vaccine to accept it and protect themselves. While the risks of serious complications from ‘flu may be small, the impact on those affected can be devastating.”

Professor Steve Field, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, also added:

“We shouldn’t underestimate swine flu – it is a nasty infection and its effects can be devastating.

"I know that some parents have concerns about immunisation but the swine flu vaccine is our most effective protection against the virus. This is obviously a personal choice but I would advise all parents whose children are offered the vaccine to take it up.

"If you are worried, please talk to your GP and get all the information so that you can make an informed choice.”

An estimated 715,000 people in the UK have been infected with the virus. Most illness caused by the virus is mild, but can be severe in a small minority of cases.

31st October 2009

New swine flu cases rise again /School children hardest hit

There has been another sharp rise in new swine flu cases, latest figures show.

Last week, an estimated 78,000 people caught swine flu, compared with 53,000 in the previous week. School-aged children and young people continue to be hardest hit by the virus.

Swine flu influenza outbreaks have been reported in at least 44 schools in England and 12 in Northern Ireland.

Influenza infection rates remain above the winter threshold levels set for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The latest weekly figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show the number people visiting their doctor with flu-like illness increased from 39.1 to 42.8 consultations per 100,000 people in England.

Although the increase in GP consultation rates was seen in all age groups, the biggest rises continue to occur in the 5-14 year old age group, followed by the 1-4 year olds.

The number of people in hospital as a result of swine flu also rose to 751, compared with 506 the week before, with 157 patients in intensive care.

Worryingly for the NHS, around 1 in 5 hospitalised flu patients are in intensive care, the highest rates since the influenza pandemic began in April. Under-4 year olds are most likely to be hospitalised due to the virus.

Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England, said at the weekly press conference: "We are seeing a level of serious activity in hospitals which has easily surpassed the level we first saw in July."

He also said: "A pattern is really emerging which has an eerie similarity to what happenned in Australia in their flu season."

Since the pandemic began, 137 deaths have been linked to the virus: 97 in England, 23 in Scotland, 8 in Northern Ireland abd 7 in Wales.

To date, the HPA estimate 521,000 people have been infected with swine flu in the UK. Most disease caused by the virus has been mild, but can be severe in a minority of cases.

Only three out of 2050 H1N1 virus samples tested by the HPA have been shown to be resistant to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

23rd October 2009

New swine flu cases double/ Intensive care rates at all time high

The number of new swine flu cases in the UK has almost doubled in a week, according to new figures released yesterday.

In the past week, an estimated 53,000 people were infected with the swine flu virus compared with 27,000 the week before.

GP consultation rates, based on the number of people visiting their doctor with flu-like illness, have now increased above the winter threshold levels set for England, Wales and N. Ireland, but remain stable in Scotland.

School age children and young people continue to be the most affected.

Although the average overall rate for GP consultations increased to 39.1 per 100,000 people for England, the highest increase was seen in the 1-4 year old age group, from 35.8 to 63.7 consultations per 100,000 people. The next highest rise was seen in 5 - 14 year olds.

The number of people in hospital due to swine flu increased to 506 compared with 363 the week before, with 99 in intensive care. This means that intensive care rates are now at 20% for the second week running.

Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said: “We don’t understand why this has happened. It looks as if the virus is having a different impact in the flu season than it had in the summer.”

He also said he was concerned about the pressure this would put on the NHS during the winter months.

A further 16 people in the UK died due to infection with the virus, taking the total to 122 - 93 in England, 18 in Scotland, five in Northern Ireland and six in Wales.

More than half (54%) of flu related deaths have occurred in people under 45 years of age. A third of those who died had little or no underlying health problems.

To date an estimated 435,000 people have been infected with swine flu in the UK.

In a planning document published yesterday, the Department of Health has said that up to 1.5 million people may fall ill in a single week when the pandemic peaks, and 35,000 people may need to be admitted to hospital. They also estimate up to 1,000 deaths due to the virus.

Although this may seem high, the two most recent flu pandemics have each resulted in the deaths of over 25,000 people in the UK. The estimates arrived at didn’t take into account the effect the swine flu vaccine may have on the pandemic.