This means that the focus will be on treating those people who actually have swine flu. In addition, the routine testing of suspected cases and the tracing of close contacts of a symptomatic patient will be discontinued.
From now on, information on flu activity in Northern Ireland will be monitored through GP practices and hospital surveillance systems. As routine swabbing has ceased, daily updates will no longer be provided and instead weekly flu bulletins will be published.
Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said: “Up to this point, our strategy has been to contain the spread of the swine flu virus whilst we gather as much information as possible. While this was necessary and useful when the virus was limited to a few individuals, it is clear that we are now seeing sustained person to person transmission and we must shift our focus to treatment.
“We now know more about this virus and its characteristics; consequently we can rely on the robust surveillance systems which have been in place for many years. This is consistent with our pandemic flu plans.
“In light of this, swine flu updates will not be issued on a daily basis, instead there will be regular flu bulletins which will contain information on flu levels across Northern Ireland.
“These bulletins will build on well established arrangements for seasonal flu surveillance. This is done through a network of 32 GP practices, which are distributed across the province, covering some 170,000 people or just under 10% of the population. In fact, the flu surveillance system in Northern Ireland has the greatest population coverage across the UK
“We are continuing to develop and improve these surveillance systems to help ensure we are ready and prepared to deal with the surge in cases anticipated in the autumn.”
Notes to Editors:
- The spotter or sentinel practice network is a network of GPs in Northern Ireland who provide information to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Northern Ireland) on the number and ages of patients contacting their practice each week throughout the year with flu and flulike illness. The GPs also swab a sample of these patients in order to identify if symptoms were caused by the flu virus. This network was established in 2000 and has steadily expanded each year and now consists of 32 practices. The network covers almost 170,000 people, nearly 10% of the population.
- The Northern Ireland swine flu helpline number 0800 0514 142 is a freephone helpline for those who want more information about swine flu.
- The UK-wide flu information line on 0800 1 513 513 provides regularly updated advice on swine flu. This is also a freephone number.
- Further information about swine flu can be found on the DHSSPS website and nidirect.
- Media enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0579. Out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
