Weekly swine flu bulletin
Thursday, 3 December 2009The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has today published the weekly flu bulletin.
The bulletin includes data for the week ending Friday 27 November (Week 48) and gives a good representation of the level of flu activity across Northern Ireland.
Key points from the bulletin are as follows:
- GP consultation rates for combined ‘flu/ FLI have increased slightly this week from 91.9 / 100,000 in Week 47 to 99.2 / 100,000 population in Week 48 (8% increase). Rates are highest in the 0-4 year age group.
- Out of hours calls for ‘flu/flu like illness have decreased from 324 in Wk 47 to 272 in Wk 48 (16% decrease).
- 33 swine influenza detections A/H1N1v in Wk 48 compared to 43 in Wk 47 (23% decrease).
- A cumulative total of 1,321 swine influenza detections in Northern Ireland as at noon 2 December 2009.
- A cumulative total of 563 hospitalised swine flu cases as at noon on 2 December 2009.
- The number of new hospitalised cases decreased from 17 in Wk 47 to 8 in Wk 48 (53% decrease).
- There have been no swine flu related deaths reported in week 48.
- Antiviral prescriptions have decreased from 760 in Wk 47 to 586 in Wk 48 (23% decrease). The total number of antivirals issued is 23,161 as at noon on 2 December 09.
The full weekly flu bulletin is available on the DHSSPS website and nidirect.
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: “The key indicators again show that swine flu continues to circulate in the community and is particularly affecting the under fives. The general downward trend of the figures is very encouraging and suggests that our preparations and plans are working.
“We continue to make excellent progress on phase one of the vaccination programme. The response has been very encouraging. In Northern Ireland, almost 130,000 people in the clinical at-risk groups and about 30,000 health and social care workers have been vaccinated. Once the priority groups are vaccinated by mid-December, phase two of the vaccination programme will be rolled out across the UK. As part of this, children over six months and under five years will be offered the vaccine.
“The public have a major role to play in this pandemic, not only looking after themselves, but those they come in contact with by getting the vaccine when it is offered to them. It is the best way for people to be protected against swine flu.”
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride said: "The slight increase in GP consultation rates this week may be partly due to an increase in the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity which causes respiratory illness, particularly in young children, and presents with symptoms similar to flu.
“We should however be mindful that swine flu is still circulating in the community and continues to pose a threat and I would ask the public to remain alert and continue to follow good hand hygiene practices.
"I am also very encouraged by the uptake of the swine flu vaccine during phase one. It remains to be most effective way for people to protect themselves from swine flu. Once the initial priority groups have been covered, phase two of the vaccination programme will commence with children aged from six months up to five years. Any further extension of the programme will depend on how the pandemic evolves and our experience of how the virus is behaving.
"As well as accepting the vaccine when it is offered to you or your child, simple but effective hygiene measures such as frequent hand-washing can also help. Remember to cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then put the tissue into a bin – catch it, bin it, kill it!
“I would like to reassure the public that for the vast majority of people, swine flu remains a relatively mild illness from which you will make a full recovery.
"If you think you have swine flu stay at home, please do not visit your GP practice, pharmacy or A&E in person. People with underlying health conditions who are at higher risk of complications if they develop influenza should call their GP for advice and assessment for antivirals. This includes people with long-term conditions such as diabetes or chronic lung disease. In addition, pregnant women who develop flu-like symptoms should phone their GP promptly. Likewise, parents of children under five years should call their doctor if their child develops flu-like symptoms.
"For otherwise fit and healthy people, there is usually no need to take antivirals. Most people will recover at home by taking simple measures to alleviate symptoms such as resting, taking paracetamol and drinking plenty of fluids. If, however, your condition suddenly deteriorates or is getting worse after seven days (five for a child) then you should contact your GP or out-of-hours service."
For further information visit nidirect, or call the Northern Ireland swine flu helpline on 0800 0 514 142 (9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday); textphone 18001 0800 0 514 142. Information is also available on the swine flu information line 0800 1 513 513.
Notes to editors:
1. The clinical priority groups for the swine flu vaccination programme were identified by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). They are prioritised as they are at greatest risk of complications if they become infected with swine flu, and hence the initial focus on protecting individuals in these groups.
The priority groups for the swine flu vaccination, in order of priority are:
- Individuals aged six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups;
- Pregnant women;
- Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals;
- People aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups.
Frontline health and social care workers are also amongst the first to be offered the vaccine.
2. The second phase of the vaccination programme was announced on 19 November and will include children from six months up to five years old. This move follows advice from the JCVI and is expected to begin as soon as all the priority groups have received their vaccinations.
3. The UK has moved to a treatment phase in relation to managing the swine flu pandemic. This means that our focus is on treating those people who actually have swine flu and in particular those at higher risk of developing complications. In addition, the routine testing of suspected cases and the tracing of close contacts of a symptomatic patient has been discontinued. The level of flu in the community is therefore being monitored using a range of surveillance mechanisms through GP practices, Out of Hours centres, antiviral prescriptions and hospital surveillance systems. This enables us to monitor flu levels and identify trends in activity.
4. Some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu. Those with:
- Chronic lung disease
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic neurological disease
- Immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years
As well as:
- Pregnant women
- Young children under five years old
- People aged 65 years and older
It is vital that people in these higher risk groups contact their GP for assessment and if advised to start antivirals should start taking them within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
5. The Northern Ireland swine flu helpline number 0800 0514 142 is a freephone helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) for those who want more information about swine flu. Textphone 18001 0800 0 514 142.
The UK-wide flu information line on 0800 1513 513 provides regularly updated advice on swine flu. This is also a freephone number.
6. Further information about swine flu can be found on the DHSSPS website and nidirect.
7. Media enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0575. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
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