Swine flu cases nearly double in a week

23^rd October 2009 - The number of new cases of swine flu reported in England over the past week has nearly doubled to 53,000 since last week. This is the largest increase since swine flu peaked in the summer, and the NHS says this indicates that the “second surge” of the virus is well under way. The UK has also seen 16 more swine flu deaths, bringing the total to 122. 

The rates for people admitted to hospital have also risen, with 506 people needing treatment, 99 of those needed critical care, the largest number so far.

The Health Protection Agency says the worst hit groups are school children and young adults.

Nearly six months after the first confirmed swine flu (H1N1) cases in the UK, the vaccination programme to fight the virus started this week.  At-risk patients and front line health care workers are getting the jabs first and, to coincide with this, a new website has been launched where people can report any suspected side effects after first getting checked by their GP.

The NHS anticipates that 12 million high-risk patients will receive the vaccine by the end of November and by the end of the year it expects to have made 50 million doses available.

GP surgeries will start to receive supplies next week.

The government’s chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has written to GPs and hospitals warning that “The second wave of the flu pandemic is under way.” He says “There is an opportunity to get the vaccine programme in place to counteract later surges of cases.”

Who is getting vaccinated first?

First to be offered it are people in the following groups:

•         front-line health and social care workers

•         people who usually receive the seasonal flu jab, aged between six months and 65, typically with conditions such as chronic lung, heart, kidney, or liver disease; chronic neurological conditions like stroke; diabetes; and immunosuppression from disease or treatment.

•         pregnant women

•         people who live with someone whose immune system is compromised from conditions such as cancer and HIV/AIDS

•         people aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.

Older people are later in the vaccination programme because doctors believe many elderly people have some immunity having lived through other strains of pandemic flu. Children are not generally a priority group as most make a full recovery. The vaccines are not suitable for babies under six months old.

Vaccines and safety

The UK is offering Pandemrix to most people, but a different type called Celvapan has been ordered in smaller quantities. Pandemrix cannot be given to anyone with egg allergies causing anaphylactic reactions; instead they’ll get Celvapan.

The European medicines regulator, The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, which is part of the European Medicines Agency, says Pandemrix is safe for pregnant women, and there’s no evidence it can harm unborn babies.