Swine flu cases still falling

SWINE Flu cases are continuing to fall across the North West – including Warrington.
The GP consultation rate per 100,000 population for Northern England for flu like illnesses fell to 11 from 17 last week. The same rate for England as a whole is down to 11.8 from 16.5.
The Health Protection Agency estimates that there were 4,500 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 September 3 was 1,118 – down from 1,194 on August 26. The number of anti-virals collected on September 3 remained the same as the previous week at 582.
In-patient activity has also fallen: there are 27 in-patients with flu-like symptoms, down from 41 a week ago; 9 are classed as critical, up from 8 last week; 16 have underlying health conditions, down from 22 last week.
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.