03 Nov 2009 09:00 AM
Swine Influenza Daily Update: 02 November 2009, Wales
The NPHS influenza surveillance scheme, which records reports of diagnoses of flu from more than 300 GP practices across Wales, shows levels of influenza continue to increase across Wales and are normal for the time of year. Further detail can be found on the NPHS website.
The report from 29 October estimates there were 82.8 cases of a flu-like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Wales - this is the equivalent of 2,484 people in Wales contacting their GPs in the last seven days with flu like symptoms. Not all of these people will have swine flu and not everyone with flu like symptoms will contact their GP. It is expected that the proportion of influenza cases diagnosed that are due to swine flu will increase as the virus spreads in Wales.
The report also shows levels of influenza activity in each county of Wales. On 29 October, the rate of diagnosis of flu-like illness at a local level ranged from 35.4 per 100,000 people in Monmouthshire to 138.7 per 100,000 people in Carmarthenshire.
Ps are no longer being asked to swab people they suspect may have swine flu. Microbiology laboratories are therefore no longer testing mostpeople suspected of having swine flu.
As at midday on 28 October, there have been a total of 341 laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu in Wales since the start of the outbreak.
As at midday on 28 October, of the laboratory confirmed cases, a total of 192 had been admitted to hospital since the start of the outbreak with 31 still in hospital.
On 28 October, there were 58 clinically diagnosed patients in hospital in connection with swine flu, 13 of whom were in critical care.
On 28 October, the Welsh Assembly Government reported that it had been formally notified that seven people with swine flu in Wales have died. The Welsh Assembly Government is also aware of a swine flu-related death of a person from Wales abroad.
No further details will be confirmed or denied about cases in order to protect their right to confidentiality.
The rates of GP consultations for flu-like illness across the UK, which are taken from different surveillance schemes and are not directly comparable, are:
60.18 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs in the previous seven days out of every 100,000 people in Wales (as of 25 October).
42.8 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs in the previous seven days out of every 100,000 people in England (for the week ending 25 October)
111.4 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Scotland (for the week ending 26 October)
280.6 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Northern Ireland (for the week ending 23 October)
138 people in the UK with swine flu have died - 7 in Wales, 97 in England 26 in Scotland and 8 in Northern Ireland. The majority had underlying health conditions.
For the latest international figures for the spread of swine flu, visit the website of the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int
Comment from the National Public Health Service for Wales
Dr Roland Salmon, Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, National Public Health Service for Wales, said:
"The number of people contacting their GP with flu like symptoms is increasing. It seems that the winter wave is getting underway.
"Not everyone who has contacted their GP with flu like symptoms will have swine flu. It's also true that not everyone with flu like symptoms will contact their GP.
"The vaccine against swine flu has been tested and approved. It is now being offered to people at most risk of complications from the virus as well as front line health and social care workers…
The report from 29 October estimates there were 82.8 cases of a flu-like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Wales - this is the equivalent of 2,484 people in Wales contacting their GPs in the last seven days with flu like symptoms. Not all of these people will have swine flu and not everyone with flu like symptoms will contact their GP. It is expected that the proportion of influenza cases diagnosed that are due to swine flu will increase as the virus spreads in Wales.
The report also shows levels of influenza activity in each county of Wales. On 29 October, the rate of diagnosis of flu-like illness at a local level ranged from 35.4 per 100,000 people in Monmouthshire to 138.7 per 100,000 people in Carmarthenshire.
Ps are no longer being asked to swab people they suspect may have swine flu. Microbiology laboratories are therefore no longer testing mostpeople suspected of having swine flu.
As at midday on 28 October, there have been a total of 341 laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu in Wales since the start of the outbreak.
As at midday on 28 October, of the laboratory confirmed cases, a total of 192 had been admitted to hospital since the start of the outbreak with 31 still in hospital.
On 28 October, there were 58 clinically diagnosed patients in hospital in connection with swine flu, 13 of whom were in critical care.
On 28 October, the Welsh Assembly Government reported that it had been formally notified that seven people with swine flu in Wales have died. The Welsh Assembly Government is also aware of a swine flu-related death of a person from Wales abroad.
No further details will be confirmed or denied about cases in order to protect their right to confidentiality.
The rates of GP consultations for flu-like illness across the UK, which are taken from different surveillance schemes and are not directly comparable, are:
60.18 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs in the previous seven days out of every 100,000 people in Wales (as of 25 October).
42.8 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs in the previous seven days out of every 100,000 people in England (for the week ending 25 October)
111.4 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Scotland (for the week ending 26 October)
280.6 cases of flu like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Northern Ireland (for the week ending 23 October)
138 people in the UK with swine flu have died - 7 in Wales, 97 in England 26 in Scotland and 8 in Northern Ireland. The majority had underlying health conditions.
For the latest international figures for the spread of swine flu, visit the website of the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int
Comment from the National Public Health Service for Wales
Dr Roland Salmon, Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, National Public Health Service for Wales, said:
"The number of people contacting their GP with flu like symptoms is increasing. It seems that the winter wave is getting underway.
"Not everyone who has contacted their GP with flu like symptoms will have swine flu. It's also true that not everyone with flu like symptoms will contact their GP.
"The vaccine against swine flu has been tested and approved. It is now being offered to people at most risk of complications from the virus as well as front line health and social care workers…
