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06/01/2011
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.
Also, the figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA) show total flu cases have increased again this week - but the level of the rise is less than previous weeks.
GPs have dealt with an increase in flu like illness over Christmas and New Year and the new PHA figures reflect this.
Currently, more than 200 people are being treated for the virus and GPs are advising patients in the high risk groups, who have not yet attended for flu vaccination, to contact their practice.
However, otherwise healthy patients with flu like symptoms can usually stay at home taking fluids and paracetamol, only contacting their GP if they developed complications such as chest pain, shortness of breath or confusion, a statement said, also noting that pregnant women are four times more at risk so that the PHA is also urging all pregnant women to get the swine flu vaccine.
Already, the number of people found to have the H1N1 swine flu virus in NI in the week before Christmas had doubled to 129 and on Tuesday the PHA revealed the number of swine flu cases in Northern Ireland has increased to over the latest 200 figure in the last week.
As a result, many operations in Northern Ireland's hospitals have been postponed for a week because of the flu outbreak and other winter illnesses with growing fears of a serious swine flu situation developing in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health said that extra healthcare staff have been drafted in to intensive or high dependency care units at hospitals.
Across the whole of the UK, the latest figures from the Health Protection Agency show 11 more people have died from flu this winter, taking the total to 50 and of these, 45 died with swine flu and five with another strain, flu type B.
The deaths are mostly among children and young adults, with five cases in the under-fives and eight cases among those aged five to 14 and another 33 cases are in people aged 15 to 64.
See: UK Swine Flu Deaths Reach 50
(BMcC/GK)
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.
Also, the figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA) show total flu cases have increased again this week - but the level of the rise is less than previous weeks.
GPs have dealt with an increase in flu like illness over Christmas and New Year and the new PHA figures reflect this.
Currently, more than 200 people are being treated for the virus and GPs are advising patients in the high risk groups, who have not yet attended for flu vaccination, to contact their practice.
However, otherwise healthy patients with flu like symptoms can usually stay at home taking fluids and paracetamol, only contacting their GP if they developed complications such as chest pain, shortness of breath or confusion, a statement said, also noting that pregnant women are four times more at risk so that the PHA is also urging all pregnant women to get the swine flu vaccine.
Already, the number of people found to have the H1N1 swine flu virus in NI in the week before Christmas had doubled to 129 and on Tuesday the PHA revealed the number of swine flu cases in Northern Ireland has increased to over the latest 200 figure in the last week.
As a result, many operations in Northern Ireland's hospitals have been postponed for a week because of the flu outbreak and other winter illnesses with growing fears of a serious swine flu situation developing in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health said that extra healthcare staff have been drafted in to intensive or high dependency care units at hospitals.
Across the whole of the UK, the latest figures from the Health Protection Agency show 11 more people have died from flu this winter, taking the total to 50 and of these, 45 died with swine flu and five with another strain, flu type B.
The deaths are mostly among children and young adults, with five cases in the under-fives and eight cases among those aged five to 14 and another 33 cases are in people aged 15 to 64.
See: UK Swine Flu Deaths Reach 50
(BMcC/GK)
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Birthday Celebrations End Tragically
A young woman from Belfast died last week in Spain after contracting swine flu and also developing pneumonia. Corinna Ritchie, a hairdresser, went to Ibiza to celebrate her 21st birthday and became ill while on holiday on the island.
24 July 2009
GPs Busy As Swine Flu Numbers Rise
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GPs Busy As Swine Flu Numbers Rise
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27 November 2009
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.
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.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
