Massive Swine Flu Rise In Wales

A massive leap in the spread of swine flu in Wales has been revealed today.

During the last week, reports show that 2,313 people have contacted their GP with flu like symptoms with Wales now fast catching up with England on the spread of the virus.

Six new cases of swine flu have been confirmed, with three receiving hospital treatment.

The worst areas with largest increase in cases are in Newport, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen and Wrexham.

The latest cases involve three youngsters from Denbighshire, a 13-year-old girl and two teenage boys, aged 15 and17. All three are linked to travel to Spain.

Those who have received hospital treatment are a 26-year-old woman from Carmarthen, a 24-year-old woman from Newport and a 44-year-old woman from Neath Port Talbot.

All have received treatment and sent home.

A total of 77 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Wales but with GPs so longer taking swabs from suspected patients the rates of the disease are know to be much higher.

A total of 16 people with swine flu have been hospitalised in Wales, 15 of whom have been discharged.

Dr Roland Salmon, Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, National Public Health Service for Wales, said: “The rise in numbers of people contacting their GP with flu like symptoms illustrates the spread of the disease across Wales. Not everyone, however, who has contacted their GP with flu like symptoms will have swine flu and not everyone with swine flu contacts their GP so it is difficult to accurately record the spread of the virus across Wales.

“Previously, we have been investigating and responding to individual cases. This has allowed us to learn about the virus, how it spreads and how it affects people. We have learnt that, in the majority of cases it is mild although proving severe for a small minority. Most people recover from infection without the need for hospitalisation or medical care.

“As the disease becomes more widespread in the UK, we have changed our approach to focus on treatment, emphasising those people most at risk – people more likely to develop serious illness or complications. These are, particularly, the groups that we encourage to get vaccinated each winter, because they are at risk from seasonal influenza, together with pregnant women and children under 5.

“We advise people to practice good respiratory and hand hygiene to reduce the chance of catching or spreading the virus. If people think they may have flu and want to check their symptoms they can call the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513. If they are still concerned they should contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647.

“People should not go to Accident and Emergency Departments or to their GP surgery as this may risk spreading the infection. It also places undue pressure on the emergency services.”

Swine Flu Holidaymakers: ‘Don’t Travel’

Britons going on their summer holidays are being warned not to travel if they had swine flu.

The Department of Health, which is currently setting up a new pandemic flu service, advised people with the virus to delay journeys until symptoms had gone.

As the Government awaits the arrival of a vaccine for the H1N1 virus, the end of the school year coincides with an outbreak affecting thousands.

Officials warned that visitors to a number of countries would have to face strict screening procedures as the illness spreads.

This was demonstrated in China, where 52 British schoolchildren and teachers were placed in quarantine in a Beijing hotel after four teenagers from London were diagnosed with swine flu.

According to the DoH, holidaymakers should take medication such as paracetamol with them and avoid public places if they fall ill.

People travelling to Europe should carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), the advice added.

If they catch swine flu – symptoms of which are a high temperature as well as two or more of a list including headache, sore throat, runny nose and aching muscles – while abroad, they should not travel home until recovered.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham, who is due to give a statement to the Commons on Monday, said: “I want families to go on their holidays and have a great time this summer, and mums and dads shouldn’t worry unnecessarily about swine flu.

“But, just as they would anyway, parents should keep a close eye on their children’s health.

“If you’re going abroad, as ever, make sure you know where you can get medical advice and if you’re holidaying in the UK, remember that from the end of this week alongside GP services, you’ll also able to phone the national pandemic flu service hotline for advice.”

A spokesman for Abta, which represents travel agents and tour operators, said: “It’s very sensible advice and we would agree with it.”

He added that the cost of cancellation due to swine flu would be covered by travel insurance.

Brits Quarantined In China Over Swine Flu

A group of 52 British students and their teachers have been quarantined by Chinese authorities after four students tested positive for swine flu, the British Council said Saturday.

The four students who tested positive for the A(H1N1) virus have been hospitalised while the group they were on a course with have been quarantined in a hotel in Beijing, the British Council said in a statement.

The students were not part of a British Council trip, but the organisation had been made “aware” of the quarantine. No other details were given.

The British Embassy said they were trying to make contact with the organisers of the trip.

In a separate incident, a British student from another group was quarantined along with a teacher for two days after she showed a heightened temperature when she arrived in Beijing this week, the British Council added.

The student showed no flu symptoms and was later allowed to rejoin the group, the statement said. She was part of a group of 362 students and teachers from 41 schools on a British Council-organised language course.

The British Council is a publicly-funded organisation that promotes cultural and educational exchanges around the world.

China has launched aggressive measures to try and detect swine flu, including temperature checks on foreign flights coming into the country.

There have been around 1,500 positive cases in China since the beginning of May, the health ministry said on its website, but no deaths.

In the last table released by the World Health Organization on July 6, the health agency had recorded 94,512 laboratory-confirmed cases in 136 countries and territories since April, including 429 deaths.

Swine Flu Spreads By 300 Cases Every Day In Wales

Swine flu in Wales is now spreading at a rate of 300 new cases a day.

More than 1,300 people in Wales were last night estimated to be suffering from swine flu – a rise of nearly 300 people in a single day.

At the current rate of transmission, the number of Welsh sufferers will top 3,000 by the end of next week.

The virus is now spreading faster in Wales than in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The sharp rise in the number of cases in Wales came as A&E departments warned patients with suspected symptoms to stay away from hospitals to avoid the risk of the disease spreading even more rapidly.

Across Wales another two patients were yesterday admitted to hospital with the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 69.

The actual number of cases is likely to be far higher because of the number of patients not seeking medical help because of the mildness of their symptoms.

The latest cases include a 14-year-old girl from Newport, which has the highest levels of reported swine flu symptoms in Wales – with nearly treble the country’s average GP consultation rates.

The teenager caught the illness from contact with another confirmed swine flu case in the town and is now recovering at home.

The second recent patient is a 44-year-old woman from Conwy whose illness is linked to travel to Spain. She remains in hospital and and is recovering after being given antiviral treatment.

Health officials now estimate there are 1,335 cases of flu-like illness across Wales – not all swine flu – with the consultation rates now increasing, although they are still below the high rates seen in England.

But hospitals last night demanded patients with suspected symptoms stay away from A&E departments – to avoid the risk of infecting vulnerable patients already suffering from heart and chest conditions.

Dr Suzanne Wyatt, of the A&E unit at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales, where the patients have been arriving despite warnings to stay away, said: “Over the past couple of days increasing numbers of people have attended A&E with concerns about swine flu and with minor symptoms.

“This is against all current public health advice. Staff are currently screening patients at the door of the unit to identify patients who are attending because of these concerns. Within the department, all precautions are taken to protect staff and patients from a possible spread of infection, and we are following recognised guidance.

“People with flu-like symptoms should not go to their A&E, local GP or pharmacy in case they spread the virus to others. Such visits to hospital cause undue pressure and potential delay for other patients who are in need of emergency services.”

Dr Roland Salmon, director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre of h the National Public Health Service for Wales, said: “The rise in numbers of people contacting their GP with flu-like symptoms illustrates the spread of the disease across Wales. Not everyone however who has contacted their GP with flu-like symptoms will have swine flu and not everyone with swine flu contacts their GP so it is difficult to accurately record the spread of the virus across Wales.

“Previously, we have been investigating and responding to individual cases. This has allowed us to learn about the virus, how it spreads and how it affects people. We have learned that, in the majority of cases, it is mild although proving severe for a small minority.

“Most people recover from infection without the need for hospitalisation or medical care.”

Further fears have been raised that the early signs of swine flu may be confused with meningitis, with both conditions starting with similar flu-like symptoms and particularly affecting the young and teenagers – the age groups that are being widely affected by swine flu.

The warning comes after a 17-year-old girl in England was mistreated in hospital with the anti-flu drug Tamiflu when she was dangerously ill with meningitis.

Steve Dayman, chief executive of Meningitis UK, said: “While we don’t want to worry people, we feel it’s important that diseases like meningitis aren’t overlooked during the swine flu outbreak.

“The NHS’s advice is to check the symptoms of swine flu on-line and if you’re still concerned, stay at home and get diagnosed over the phone. But this could mean meningitis might be missed and won’t be treated as swiftly as is necessary.

“We would advise people to make sure they know the symptoms associated with both illnesses and to look out for the ones unique to meningitis.

“NHS Direct has an online symptoms checker which will help people to differentiate between meningitis and swine flu: go to www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk”

Dr Tony Jewell, chief medical officer for Wales, said: “There has been a reported increase in the number of people presenting with flu-like symptoms at the University Hospital of Wales’UHW’s accident and emergency department, contrary to repeated advice from me and other health professionals.

“I continue to stress that if people have flu-like symptoms, they should stay at home and check their symptoms on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk or phone the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513. If the symptoms are causing concern, or people are in an at risk group, such as those with chronic conditions, children under five or pregnant women, they should phone NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 or phone their GP who will assess their symptoms and provide appropriate advice. For those who need anti-viral treatment, there are plenty of supplies available across Wales.

“People with flu-like symptoms should not go to their A&E, local GP or pharmacy in case they spread the virus to others. Such visits cause undue pressure and potential delay for other patients who are in need of emergency services.”

Swine Flu Kills ‘Healthy’ Boy Of Six

A six-year-old boy from Kent who was believed to be otherwise healthy has died after contracting swine flu, Sky sources have said.

The latest death comes after Britain’s chief medical officer warned that up to 65,000 people could die from swine flu across the UK.

Sir Liam Donaldson also suggested 9% of the workforce could have flu by the end of August, rising to 12% over the winter.

The grim predictions – a worst case scenario – came as the Health Protection Agency said 29 people have already died in the UK after contracting the virus.

The death toll has leapt from 17 in less than a week.

Agencies estimated there were 55,000 new cases last week in Britain, now the country worst hit by the pandemic in Europe.

Sir Liam published the new projections to help the health service manage the virus, but he stressed they presented the worst-case scenario.

Britain has ordered 132 million doses of the flu vaccine Tamiflu, enough for 60 million people.

The latest UK victim is a female tourist who died in hospital in Scotland, the country’s health secretary Nicola Surgeon said.

The woman, who had “significant underlying medical conditions” died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness on Wednesday evening.

The patient was admitted to the hospital more than three weeks ago and had been in intensive care. She became the third person suffering from swine flu to have died in Scotland.

GPs have reported a leap of almost 50% in the numbers of people contacting them in the last week with fears they have the virus.

Statistics from the Royal College of GPs’ monitoring system showed 50.3 people per 100,000 were reporting flu-like illness between June 29 and July 5.

But this leapt 46% to 73.4 people per 100,000 between July 6 and 12.

’65,000 Could Die From Swine Flu’

Grim estimates of thousands of deaths were made as the Government confirmed 29 people in the UK have already died after contracting swine flu.

Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, said figures being used by the NHS to plan its services show that a 30% infection rate among the population could possibly lead to 65,000 deaths.

However, estimates vary depending on the numbers who end up infected.

Sir Liam said a National Pandemic Flu Service for England should be up and running towards the end of next week.

The telephone and internet-based service will enable people to get a diagnosis and obtain a unique reference number which gives them access to Tamiflu.

A “flu friend” can then use the number to obtain the antiviral from a depot around the country and take it to the patient.

Sir Liam said the aim of the new flu service was to alleviate pressure on hospitals and GP services, enabling them to look after the “most seriously ill”.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have not yet implemented similar services but could do so in future if pressure on their health services continues to rise.

Twenty six people in England and three in Scotland have now died after contracting the virus.

NHS South East Coast said it was investigating a case but could not confirm whether it was that of an apparently healthy six-year-old boy, who according to some reports died on Wednesday after contracting the virus.

Swine Flu Deaths Rise To 29

The latest figures show 29 people have now died in the UK after contracting swine flu.

The Department of Health says there have been 26 deaths in England and three in Scotland.

Among the latest victims is a female tourist who died in hospital on Wednesday evening.

The woman, who had “significant underlying medical conditions” was being treated in intensive care at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

The figures were released as the Royal College of GPs criticised aspects of the Government’s handling of the epidemic.

The professional body for GPs is complaining of poor out-of-hours planning, confusion over prescribing the antiviral drug Tamiflu and uncertainty over how long infected patients should stay at home.

Earlier it emerged there has been a 50 per cent rise in the number of people contacting their GP believing they have swine flu.

Around 40,000 people a week in England and Wales are now complaining to their doctor of “flu-like illness”, with a huge rise in the number of young children affected.

The figures, from the Royal College of GPs’ monitoring system, showed 50.3 people per 100,000 were reporting flu-like illness between June 29 and July 5.

But this leapt 46 per cent to 73.4 people per 100,000 between July 6 and 12.

The weekly report from the Royal College of GPs said: “National incidence of influenza-like illness increased for all regions and is now evident in all age groups but remains highest in five to 14 age groups.”

The study said the highest number of cases was being seen in central England but the North had seen “a marked increase compared to previous weeks”.

There has been a small decrease in the number of cases being seen in London although the capital remains a major hot spot for the virus.

The Government insisted that the swine flu vaccine should begin arriving at the end of August, amid fears of a delay before people receive jabs.

However, there is expected to be some delay between when the manufacturers, Baxter and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), deliver the supplies and people receive their first vaccinations.

Pandemic Threat ‘Worse Than Terror’

A swine flu pandemic could be more devastating than a terrorist attack, a police officer has warned as the UK death toll from the virus reached 29.

Superintendent Steve Anderson from West Midlands Police said officers could be forced to stop non-emergency work in a worse case scenario.

He said the force rated swine flu along with terrorism, heatwave and flooding and concluded “a worse case scenario is that pandemic flu would be worse than any of those”.

He spoke after it emerged that 26 people have died in England and three in Scotland, including a tourist with significant underlying medical conditions who died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness on Wednesday night.

The wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, Cherie Blair, has pulled out of a series of public engagements while she battles the virus.

Supt Anderson told Channel 4 News: “We have this thing called a community risk register, which is in effect a who’s who list of scary things that could happen in the community.

“And we’ve assessed each of those based on actually how likely it is to happen, and the impact on communities – and even as bad as terrorism, as bad as heatwave, as bad as flooding can get, a worse case scenario is that pandemic flu would be worse than any of those.”

The World Health Organisation announced the swine flu outbreak had become a pandemic on June 11. A disease is classed as a pandemic when it reaches global epidemic proportions, and where the microbe infects and causes serious illness in humans, where humans do not have immunity against the virus, and where the virus spreads easily from person-to-person and survives within humans.

The Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, issued figures on the possible number of people who could die as a result of the current pandemic. The figures are being used by the NHS to help plan its services and show that a 30% infection rate among the population could possibly lead to 65,000 deaths. However, the estimates vary depending on the numbers who end up infected.

Sir Liam also announced details of a National Pandemic Flu Service for England, which should be up and running towards the end of next week. This telephone and internet-based service will enable people to get a diagnosis of swine flu, obtain a unique reference number and gain access to Tamiflu.

Spike In Swine Flu Calls To GPs

The number of people contacted their GP believing they have swine flu has jumped 50 per cent in the past week.

It comes as Government figures released later are expected to show almost one in eight workers are likely to be kept at home with the virus in the next few weeks.

Around 40,000 people a week in England and Wales are now complaining to their doctor of “flu-like illness”, with a huge rise in the number of young children being affected.

The figures, from the Royal College of GPs’ monitoring system, showed 50.3 people per 100,000 were reporting flu-like illness between June 29 and July 5.

But this leapt 46 per cent to 73.4 people per 100,000 between July 6 and 12.

The weekly report from the Royal College of GPs said: “National incidence of influenza-like illness increased for all regions and is now evident in all age groups but remains highest in five to 14 age groups.”

The study said the highest number of cases was being seen in central England but the North had seen “a marked increase compared to previous weeks”.

There has been a small decrease in the number of cases being seen in London although the capital remains a major hot spot for the virus.

The Government insisted that the swine flu vaccine should begin arriving at the end of August, amid fears of a delay before people receive jabs.

However, there is expected to be some delay between when the manufacturers, Baxter and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), deliver the supplies and people receive their first vaccinations.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: “The manufacturers have told us that they will be delivering the first supplies of the vaccine at the end of August.

“This is not the Department of Health’s schedule – it is led by the manufacturers.”

Swine Flu Vaccine ‘Months Away’

Protection against swine flu for millions of Britons may not be available for several months the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned today.

Dr Margaret Chan, WHO director general said: “There’s no vaccine. One should be available soon, in August.

“But having a vaccine available is not the same as having a vaccine that has been proven safe. Clinical trial data will not be available for another two to three months.”

Ministers had previously claimed in parliament that the first stocks of the vaccine would be available in the UK in August but Dr Chan’s remarks would seem to contradict this.

The news follows earlier comments by Dr Alan Hay, director of the WHO’s World Influenza Centre, who said the extensive summer outbreak in Britain had not followed expected patterns.

It had previously been supposed that the virus would not reach a critical point until the Autumn.

Dr Hay called health secretary Andy Burnham’s announcement in the Commons that a vaccine would be available next month “a bit optimistic”.

Public anxiety about swine flu has grown since the death of six-year-old London schoolgirl Chloe Buckley, who unlike other victims of the disease, had previously enjoyed good health.

Sixteen people in the UK have now died after contracting swine flu.

Mr Burnham urged the public yesterday to keep the threat posed “in perspective”, noting the vast majority of sufferers made a full recovery.

He also reiterated that Britain was at the “front of the queue” for vaccine stocks.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “We expect delivery of the vaccine in the coming months. Vaccine development can take some time. We hope to have enough vaccine by the end of the year to cover half of the population, but that’s a forecast and it could go up or it could decrease.”

Latest swine flu developments were discussed at Cabinet level yesterday.