Diabetics At Higher Risk Of Swine Flu

While swine flu leaflets are being distributed to households across Northern Ireland, the high number of diabetes cases diagnosed each day is becoming another increasing concern in Northern Ireland health matters.

It has emerged today that about 10 people in Northern Ireland are diagnosed daily as having diabetes - all of them at greater risk from infection than others.

The nationwide campaign against swine flu aims to minimise the risks by informing people on how to protect themselves and what to do if they have symptoms.

There have been no confirmed cases in Northern Ireland so far and tests on 50 people for the virus have all proved negative.

At the moment just one person is still awaiting results. Nevertheless, the Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency, Eddie Rooney, said that five to six potential new cases are still emerging each day.

Mr Rooney reported that all the people that suspected they had swine flu had travelled from one of the affected countries. He added that all were tested within 24 hours.

In the face of comments about an over-reaction to the threat of the virus the representative of the Public Health Agency said: "It is very clear if there is a threat to public health… we have a duty to act swiftly to protect the public.

"The more effort we put in now, the more chance… we can prevent a spread in the future," he said.

The new Northern Ireland government's website also now features a link to a webpage with the latest news about the virus and how to prevent it spreading.

It is also possible to contact the Northern Ireland swine flu helpline by dialling 0800 0514 142.

On diabetes, Care Advisor at Diabetes UK, Caroline Butler, has already warned that people with diabetes are a high-risk group when it comes to getting flu.

"Having flu can really upset diabetes control and cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate.

"This can leave people with diabetes open to many heath problems, including complications of flu such as pneumonia and bronchitis," she said.

It has emerged today that about 10 people in Northern Ireland are diagnosed daily as having diabetes.

The Chief Executive of the Institute of Public Health, Kane Wilde, said the rise in diabetes was probably the consequence of the increasing levels of obesity.

"Already this is having a big impact on our health service, and we would expect this to rise hugely in the years ahead," she said.

The new figure has been described as "shocking" by health professionals. They said that the Department of Health must act, because Northern Ireland does not have a specific diabetes strategy, unlike England, Scotland and Wales.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin MLA Michelle O'Neill has called on the Stormont Health Minister to urgently devise a strategy to deal with the extremely high incidences of diabetes.

"There are currently no targets for reducing the incidence of diabetes. Given the figures and the increasing trend of diabetes it is very clear that the Department of Health must bring forward strategy to address this issue."

See: Stormont Government Opens Up With Web Access

See: Further Swine Flu Cases Confirmed

(AC/BMcC)