Weekly swine flu update

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has today published the weekly flu bulletin.

The bulletin includes data for the week ending Friday 17 July (Week 29) and gives a good representation of the level of flu activity across Northern Ireland.

Key points from the bulletin are as follows:

• GP consultations for flu and flu-like illness and calls to Out of Hours centres have both increased. The GP consultation rate is higher than expected for this time of the year.
• There are three new cases of laboratory confirmed swine flu this week.
• The total number of laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland is 58.
• There have been no deaths related to swine flu.

The full bulletin is available on the DHSSPS website and nidirect

National Pandemic Flu Service

A National Pandemic Flu Service has launched today in England.

The Minister has been working with counterparts from the other UK Health Departments in developing this National Pandemic Flu Service.

The service will only be available to patients in England initially due to the increased pressures on primary care services there. The current numbers of flu consultations in Northern Ireland remain relatively low and the present arrangements remain the best way to get treatment to all who need it quickly. Northern Ireland will be able to use the National Pandemic Flu Service if the need arises locally. This situation is being kept under constant review.

To avoid spreading the virus, people who think they have swine flu should stay at home and take simple measure to alleviate symptoms, and if they still are concerned, contact their GP. People can also go online and check their symptoms on www.nidirect.gov.uk , or call the Northern Ireland swine flu helpline on 0800 0 514 142 (9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday). Information is also available on the swine flu information line 0800 1 513 513.

Notes to editors:

1. The UK has now 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. In addition, the routine testing of suspected cases and the tracing of close contacts of a symptomatic patient will be 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 and hospital surveillance systems. This enables us to accurately predict flu levels, monitor new and emerging viruses and identify trends in activity.

2. The Northern Ireland swine flu helpline number 0800 0514 142 is a freephone helpline for those who want more information about swine flu.

3. The UK-wide flu information line on 0800 1 513 513 provides regularly updated advice on swine flu. This is also a freephone number.

4. Further information about swine flu can be found at the DHSSPS website and nidirect

5. 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.