News: Swine influenza daily update: 24 November 2009

• The NPHS influenza surveillance scheme, which records reports of diagnoses of flu from more than 300 GP practices across Wales, shows that there has been a decrease in the rate of influenza consultations.  Further detail can be found on the NPHS website: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgid=457&pid=38241

• The report from 22 November estimates there were 38.2 cases of a flu-like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Wales – this is the equivalent of 1,146 people in Wales contacting their GPs in the last seven days with flu like symptoms. Not all of these people will have swine flu and not everyone with flu like symptoms will contact their GP.

• The report also shows levels of influenza activity in each county of Wales. On 22 November, the rate of diagnosis of flu-like illness at a local level ranged from 19.9 per 100,000 people in Conwy and Denbighshire to 60.7 per 100,000 people in Pembrokeshire.

• GPs are no longer being asked to swab people they suspect may have swine flu. Microbiology laboratories are therefore no longer testing mostpeople suspected of having swine flu.

• The latest weekly swine flu report from the NPHS and Welsh Assembly Government, containing information on laboratory-confirmed cases of swine flu, hospitalised cases and swine flu-related deaths, can be found online.  A new report is issued every Thursday.

• The rates of GP consultations for flu-like illness across the UK, which are taken from different surveillance schemes and are not directly comparable, are:
  • 36.0 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs in the previous seven days out of every 100,000 people in Wales (as of 15 November). 
  • 35.9 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs in the previous seven days out of every 100,000 people in England (for the week ending 15 November)
  • 119.4 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Scotland (for the week ending 16 November)
  • 106.5 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Northern Ireland (for the week ending 13 November)

• 214 people in the UK with swine flu have died – 21 in Wales, 142 in England, 38 in Scotland and 13 in Northern Ireland. The majority had underlying health conditions.

• For the latest international figures for the spread of swine flu, visit the website of the World Health Organization at www.who.int 

• Dr Roland Salmon, Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, National Public Health Service for Wales, said:

“The number of people contacting their GP with flu symptoms has stalled and started to decline slightly over Wales as a whole. Nevertheless flu is still circulating and we therefore continue to emphasise the importance of being aware of the symptoms of swine flu and of the steps that can be taken to prevent its spread.

“The vaccine against swine flu has been tested and approved. It is now being offered to people at most risk of complications from the virus as well as front line health and social care workers. Vaccination is the most effective tool we have in preventing swine flu so I urge people identified as being at risk to look out for their invitation to be vaccinated by their GP surgery.

"People with flu-like symptoms should stay at home, observe good respiratory and hand hygiene and stay away from GP surgeries, Accident and Emergency departments and pharmacies unless advised to do so, which will also help to limit the infection's spread.

“People with flu like symptoms should check their symptoms on www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk or by calling the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513.

“Most people will get better at home with rest, plenty of fluids, and medication such as paracetamol.

“Antiviral medications are available for individuals who are at particular risk from flu, or for people who become very ill.

“If symptoms worsen or people have underlying health problems they should call their GP. Most people make a full recovery from swine flu without needing to be admitted to hospital or to call a doctor. However, a few people go on to develop complications and as the pandemic continues we are seeing deaths from swine flu in Wales, just as we do most years from seasonal flu."