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04/09/2009
Swine Flu Increase Still Slowing
NI now has an official total of 160 laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu.
That's according to new data from the Department of Health just released - which includes 18 new cases of lab confirmed swine flu in the last week of August.
The medical figures also show that antiviral prescriptions have decreased during that week to 384 - as compared with 577 courses prescribed in the previous seven-day period.
According to the statement, the cumulative number of swine flu hospitalisations now stands at 56 as at noon on 2 September and at the minute, there has been one death related to swine flu.
That single death to date was a female cancer patient who died in Belfast, and, while not officially counted, the fatality was actually the second such death of a local victim - after a TA soldier from Coleraine died in England from swine flu.
NI Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride said: "The number of contacts made to GPs during this period for flu-like illness has decreased for the fourth week in a row but remains significantly higher compared to this time in previous years, especially for the 15-44 age group.
"Primary care services continue to cope well despite the increased demand on their services," she said.
Meanwhile, revised planning assumptions have also been published.
The new assumptions are based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence and indicate that estimates for the worst case scenario in the current pandemic are lower than previously thought.
The updated planning assumptions indicate that up to 30% of the population may become ill with flu at some point over the course of the pandemic.
It also suggests that as many as 1% of people who become ill with flu may require hospitalisation and that 0.1% of people who become ill may die from the virus.
Commenting on the updated planning assumptions, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "I welcome the publication of the new planning assumptions. This information is very useful and will help us to prepare.
"The updated planning assumptions indicate that in Northern Ireland during the peak of the pandemic, approximately 113,000 people could contract swine flu in one week.
"These assumptions do not yet take account of the impact of the vaccination programme, and are not predictions – they are assumptions that allow us to plan and prepare for the worst, while continuing to hope for the best.
"We now know more about the virus and while in the majority of people it is mild, for some it can be a serious illness. We know now that it isn't a killer but it does kill," he concluded.
See: Swine Flu Finance In Focus
(BMcC/KMcA)
That's according to new data from the Department of Health just released - which includes 18 new cases of lab confirmed swine flu in the last week of August.
The medical figures also show that antiviral prescriptions have decreased during that week to 384 - as compared with 577 courses prescribed in the previous seven-day period.
According to the statement, the cumulative number of swine flu hospitalisations now stands at 56 as at noon on 2 September and at the minute, there has been one death related to swine flu.
That single death to date was a female cancer patient who died in Belfast, and, while not officially counted, the fatality was actually the second such death of a local victim - after a TA soldier from Coleraine died in England from swine flu.
NI Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride said: "The number of contacts made to GPs during this period for flu-like illness has decreased for the fourth week in a row but remains significantly higher compared to this time in previous years, especially for the 15-44 age group.
"Primary care services continue to cope well despite the increased demand on their services," she said.
Meanwhile, revised planning assumptions have also been published.
The new assumptions are based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence and indicate that estimates for the worst case scenario in the current pandemic are lower than previously thought.
The updated planning assumptions indicate that up to 30% of the population may become ill with flu at some point over the course of the pandemic.
It also suggests that as many as 1% of people who become ill with flu may require hospitalisation and that 0.1% of people who become ill may die from the virus.
Commenting on the updated planning assumptions, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "I welcome the publication of the new planning assumptions. This information is very useful and will help us to prepare.
"The updated planning assumptions indicate that in Northern Ireland during the peak of the pandemic, approximately 113,000 people could contract swine flu in one week.
"These assumptions do not yet take account of the impact of the vaccination programme, and are not predictions – they are assumptions that allow us to plan and prepare for the worst, while continuing to hope for the best.
"We now know more about the virus and while in the majority of people it is mild, for some it can be a serious illness. We know now that it isn't a killer but it does kill," he concluded.
See: Swine Flu Finance In Focus
(BMcC/KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
