Swine Flu Outbreak Slowing

The Department of Health has published its now weekly flu bulletin - and the prognosis for NI is 'improving'.

The number of new swine flu cases in Northern Ireland almost halved last week, according to the latest figures.

Although there were 43 new cases, that is good compared to 78 the previous week - a fall of 45%, so things are improving.

Up to 25 November, 1,303 people had been diagnosed with the virus, and 558 had been hospitalised, while the total number of antivirals issued is 22,718.

Best news of all, is that no new swine flu-related deaths were reported in NI.

That's little comfort though to the families of the 15 people from Northern Ireland who have died as a result of it, with 13 falling victim in Northern Ireland, along with one who died in England and one in Spain.

But the positive note continued at yesterday's briefing with a decrease in the number of people consulting their GPs about swine flu symptoms.

NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey (pictured) said: "The further decrease in consultation rates in the past week suggests that our preparations and plans are working.

"However, swine flu still continues to circulate in the community and is particularly affecting the under fives," he said.

"The response to phase one of the vaccination programme has been very encouraging. In Northern Ireland, over 100,000 people in the clinical at-risk groups and about 28,000 health and social care workers have been vaccinated.

"Once the priority groups are vaccinated by mid-December, phase two of the vaccination programme will be rolled out across the UK.

"As part of this, children over six months and under five years will be offered the vaccine through GP practices," he continued.

(BMcC/KMcA)