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24/07/2009
GPs Busy As Swine Flu Numbers Rise
Family doctors and their after-hours services are coming under increasing pressure over swine flu.
The news comes as fresh figures this week indicated that there were three further confirmed cases of swine flu in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health here said that while there have been no deaths related to swine flu here, the new cases brings the total number of laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland is 58.
An official statement said that GP consultations for flu and flu-like illness and calls to Out of Hours centres have both increased.
The statement noted that the GP consultation rate is higher than expected for this time of the year.
This modest rise is in sharp contrast to the rest of the UK, where 100,000 new cases were reported in just one week.
In some areas of London, for example, single GP practices have recorded more cases of swine flu among their patients that in the whole of Northern Ireland.
Locally, Stormont Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said he has worked with other UK health departments to develop the National Flu Pandemic Service which launched yesterday in England.
His department stressed the service is only available to patients in England initially "due to the increased pressures on primary care services there".
"The current numbers of flu consultations in Northern Ireland remain relatively low and the present arrangements remain the best way to get treatment to all who need it quickly," a statement said.
"Northern Ireland will be able to use the National Pandemic Flu Service if the need arises locally. This situation is being kept under constant review."
As it turns out, that may be just as well as the flu advice website for England 'crashed' on Thursday after it was overwhelmed with around 9.3million 'hits' an hour.
See: Swine Flu Woman Treated In Sweden
(BMcC/JM)
The news comes as fresh figures this week indicated that there were three further confirmed cases of swine flu in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health here said that while there have been no deaths related to swine flu here, the new cases brings the total number of laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland is 58.
An official statement said that GP consultations for flu and flu-like illness and calls to Out of Hours centres have both increased.
The statement noted that the GP consultation rate is higher than expected for this time of the year.
This modest rise is in sharp contrast to the rest of the UK, where 100,000 new cases were reported in just one week.
In some areas of London, for example, single GP practices have recorded more cases of swine flu among their patients that in the whole of Northern Ireland.
Locally, Stormont Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said he has worked with other UK health departments to develop the National Flu Pandemic Service which launched yesterday in England.
His department stressed the service is only available to patients in England initially "due to the increased pressures on primary care services there".
"The current numbers of flu consultations in Northern Ireland remain relatively low and the present arrangements remain the best way to get treatment to all who need it quickly," a statement said.
"Northern Ireland will be able to use the National Pandemic Flu Service if the need arises locally. This situation is being kept under constant review."
As it turns out, that may be just as well as the flu advice website for England 'crashed' on Thursday after it was overwhelmed with around 9.3million 'hits' an hour.
See: Swine Flu Woman Treated In Sweden
(BMcC/JM)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 July 2009
Tamiflu Prescribed For First Time
An antiviral drug is now being dispensed in NI for the first time. As more people are falling ill with suspected swine flu, Tamiflu is going to patients who present with symptoms.
Tamiflu Prescribed For First Time
An antiviral drug is now being dispensed in NI for the first time. As more people are falling ill with suspected swine flu, Tamiflu is going to patients who present with symptoms.
06 January 2011
NI Swine Flu Cases Accelerating
Swine flu, the H1N1 virus is firmly back in the news as new cases continue to rise. A significant jump in infections recorded in Northern Ireland has seen the number of people treated for swine flu increase from 136 to 185 in the last week of 2010.
NI Swine Flu Cases Accelerating
Swine flu, the H1N1 virus is firmly back in the news as new cases continue to rise. A significant jump in infections recorded in Northern Ireland has seen the number of people treated for swine flu increase from 136 to 185 in the last week of 2010.
06 August 2009
Further Swine Flu Cases Confirmed
Lab tested cases of swine flu across Northern Ireland continue to rise. However, while many more people have been diagnosed as swine flu sufferers, the number of laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu have risen by just 16 - a far lower rate of increase than anywhere else in the British Isles.
Further Swine Flu Cases Confirmed
Lab tested cases of swine flu across Northern Ireland continue to rise. However, while many more people have been diagnosed as swine flu sufferers, the number of laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu have risen by just 16 - a far lower rate of increase than anywhere else in the British Isles.
17 December 2009
Shock Reminder Of Deadly Flu Virus
Although GP consultation rates for flu or flu-like symptoms continued their decrease - being down by 19% in the past week - there's been a shocking reminder of the possible deadly consequences of catching swine flu.
Shock Reminder Of Deadly Flu Virus
Although GP consultation rates for flu or flu-like symptoms continued their decrease - being down by 19% in the past week - there's been a shocking reminder of the possible deadly consequences of catching swine flu.
05 February 2010
Swine Flu Cases Still Falling
The level of flu activity across Northern Ireland has again dropped. The Department of Health's weekly flu bulletin - covering the week ending Friday 29 January shows that GP consultation rates for flu have decreased from 23.2/100,000 population to 18.1/100,000 -a 22% decrease.
Swine Flu Cases Still Falling
The level of flu activity across Northern Ireland has again dropped. The Department of Health's weekly flu bulletin - covering the week ending Friday 29 January shows that GP consultation rates for flu have decreased from 23.2/100,000 population to 18.1/100,000 -a 22% decrease.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy start with scattered showers, the showers becoming more isolated and largely confined to the south this morning. Becoming brighter this afternoon, the best of any sunnier spells across northern counties. Northerly winds easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
