The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has today published the weekly flu bulletin.
The UK, including Northern Ireland, has moved to a treatment phase in relation to managing swine flu. The focus is therefore on treating people who have swine flu. The routine testing of suspected cases and the tracing of close contacts of a symptomatic patient has ceased.
The figures cover the period 4 July – 10 July 2009. (Week 28)
Key points from the bulletin:
The bulletin includes data for the week 4 July until 10 July 2009. Four new laboratory confirmed cases were detected this week.
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 flu like 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.
- There is evidence of a rise in the number of consultations for flu and flu-like illnesses from GPs and Out of Hours centres.
- There are four new cases of laboratory confirmed swine flu this week.
- This brings the total number of laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland to 50.
- There have been no deaths related to swine flu.
The full bulletin is available on the DHSSPS website and nidirect
Notes to editors:
1. The Northern Ireland swine flu helpline number 0800 0514 142 is a freephone helpline for those who want more information about swine flu.
2. The UK-wide flu information line on 0800 1 513 513 provides regularly updated advice on swine flu. This is also a freephone number.
3. Further information about swine flu can be found on the DHSSPS website and nidirect
4. 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
