Swine flu cases almost double for second week on sep 25th

Estimates suggest that there were 9,000 new cases in England with at least 66 schools in England affected by the virus

 

The number of cases of swine flu has almost doubled for the second week in a row with at least 66 schools in England affected by outbreaks since the start of the new term, NHS figures show.
The latest estimates from the Health Protection Agency suggest that there were 9,000 new cases of swine flu in England last week, up from 5,000 in the previous week. The week before that the figure was about 3,000.
Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government’s chief medical officer, said that the increases “suggest the early stages of a second wave” of swine flu, after a lull in cases over the summer.
While the majority of cases continue to be mild, the total number of swine flu-related deaths in the UK rose to 82.
In Scotland, the new weekly figures showed a slight increase from 6,180 to 7,034, while levels of swine flu are much lower in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Sir Liam said that cases were high for this time of year but had not reached the levels that would be expected in a typical flu season.
Schools in at least eight out of ten NHS regions in England had reported outbreaks, including those with confirmed cases and some under investigation.
Of the 66 schools, 27 were reported to be in the Yorkshire and Humber region, with 12 in the West Midlands, eight in the East Midlands, and six in London.
The data was obtained from local health authorities but was likely to underestimate the true number of schools affected, Sir Liam said.
He said that a school “outbreak” could mean anything from a couple of suspected cases to more than a dozen children being off sick with flu, but said that the numbers correlated with rises in the number of cases seen in young people.
The Government has ruled out a policy of regular school closures as had been recommended when the H1N1 flu virus emerged in April. Sir Liam stressed the importance of good hygiene, instead, including regularly washing hands with soap and water, throwing tissues away and covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. “Research across a lot of children’s diseases does show that that cuts the rate,” he said.
“Parents of children with underlying illnesses should consult their doctor (if they have flu) and children with flu-like symptoms and whose condition deteriorates should consult their doctor because that might be an indication that they have serious complications of flu or have another serious illness of childhood.”
Sir Liam said that the “small increase” in cases seen last week was still less than the doubling in new cases each week that would be expected during large-scale outbreaks. But he added: “I would have preferred not to have seen any increases yet and had more flatlining because that gets us close to the vaccine becoming available. I would have preferred to have had more breathing space.”
Recent figures suggest that the situation is much worse in France, where rates of flu-like illness are in excess of even the peak experienced in England in July, when up to 100,000 new cases a week were being diagnosed.
European regulators are still due to licence a swine flu vaccine so that it can be given to those in high-risk groups, such as pregnant women and children and adults with asthma or diabetes, from next month.
Evidence suggests that people may need only one dose of the jab rather than two, although children may still need two after showing a lower immune response in clinical trials.
Sir Liam said he was “optimistic” that the country may be able to rely on one dose for adults.

my thoughts:

Q)How can they possibly know if this is genuine swine flu when they don't actually test for it unless there are serious side-effects?

I had most the symptoms last week but it wasn't that severe and I carried on as normal - still coughing a bit, but no need to bother a doctor.

ANS)I had the porcine plague this week. Not much fun but a reasonable excuse to bunk off work and play the six degrees of seperation in European and Russian cinema (Ladies in Lavender to Night Watch in three steps, not bad).

However, I just went onto the NHS swine flu website (hey, it's Friday afternoon) and I am not only suffering complications (read also, the usual post-flu cough and gross-ness as my body rids itself of the excess fluids it has been hoarding over the last few days), but am also able to pick up my anti-virals at any pre-ordained pick-up point. I can even get a friend or relative to pick it up for me.

The NHS is now only one step away from doing deliveries. I think they must have based their system on Pizza Hut's...