10/12/2009

Drop In Swine Flu Cases

There has been a further drop in cases of swine flu across Northern Ireland, according to the Department of Health's latest flu pandemic bulletin.

No swine flu related deaths have been reported within the last week and GP consultation rates for the combined flu have decreased by 24% from 99.2 per 100,000 population to 74.9.

NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey commented: "I am very encouraged by the continued decrease in the key indicators.

"We are now experiencing the same level of flu activity as this time last year. This general downward trend of the figures is very encouraging and suggests that our preparations and plans are working."

Swine flu is particularly affecting children under five.

"Of nine new hospitalised cases this week, five of these were in children under five. This highlights the need to vaccinate these young children as soon as soon as possible," Mr McGimpsey said.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride, paid tribute to the work of staff in Trusts and primary care who are delivering the vaccination programme.

He said: "Planning this programme has been a major undertaking and I am also very appreciative of all those from a wide range of organisations who have worked together to make this possible."


The total number of swine flu related deaths across NI remains at 13, while the British Medical Journal's website, bmj.com, today revealed that there were 26 deaths out of every 100,000 cases of swine flu in England (a fatality rate of 0.026%).

The authors of the new research concluded that "the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century is considerably less lethal than was feared in advance".

See: Swine Flu Deaths 'Less Than Expected'

See: No Further Swine Flu Deaths In NI

(GK/BMcc)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 March 2024
Working Families Urged To Explore Childcare Savings Ahead Of Holidays
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has called on working families who have yet to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare to find out how they could save money on their childcare costs in time for the school holidays.
12 March 2024
Communities Minister Must Prioritise Anti-Poverty Measures
The Alliance Party has criticised Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, for "not prioritising anti-poverty measures". MLA Kellie Armstrong said the Minister's inaction was "disappointing" in light of a new report showing that one in five children in NI are living in relative poverty.
20 February 2024
Belfast YMCA Champions Affordable Housing
In a strategic move to address the pressing need for affordable housing in Belfast, local charity Belfast YMCA has released a prime piece of land to the market for sale in the Stranmillis Area. Working with commercial estate agents Frazer Kidd the land in the highly coveted BT9 area is on the market for 'offers in the region of £1m'.
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.
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.