Swine flu cases fall

THE number of swine flu cases is continuing to fall in the North West.
Region health bosses say the GP consultation rate per 100,000 population for Northern England for flu like illnesses fell to 17 from 25 last week.
The same rate for England as a whole is down to 16.5 from 21.1; and the Health Protection Agency estimates that there were 5,000 new cases of swine flu in England over the past seven days.
The number of assessments by the National Pandemic Flu Service for people in the North West on August 26 was 1,194 – down from 1,697 on 19 August. The number of anti-virals collected on August 26 was also down to 582, from 863 on August 19.
In-patient activity has risen slightly: there are 41 in-patients with flu-like symptoms, up from 39 a week ago; eight are classed as critical, up from six; 22 have underlying health conditions, up from 15.
But some experts are predicting a rise in the number of cases in the autumn and winter.
The majority of people who have had swine flu so far, have described mild to moderate cold or flu-like symptoms.
Some of the symptoms are the sudden onset of fever, cough or shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose or a loss of appetite.
Anyone who thinks they may have contracted the swine flu virus can contact the National Pandemic Flu Service on-line at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or call 0800 1 513 513 for information or 0800 1 513 100 for treatment.