UK flu worries continue

The World Health Organisation released figures that show the rate of influenza-like illnesses is still low across continental Europe but has risen dramatically in Britain since the flu season began in October.

The majority are swine flu cases. The weekly influenza bulletin from WHO read, "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) has been experiencing a surge in both mild and severe cases for the last three weeks which has not yet peaked...On the European continent, rates of respiratory disease are still relatively low but the number of countries reporting influenza detections are increasing."

Potentially a killer

At present there are 738 patients receiving intensive care treatment for flu in the UK and at least 17 have required life support because their heart and lungs have failed. The disease has killed 39, with 36 of the victims dying of the H1N1 swine flu virus. The government faces questions regarding its preparedness for the outbreak. The Department of Health denied claims the country was facing a national shortage of the flu vaccine after some doctors surgeries reported they were running out of stocks. The Government also relaunched its national flu prevention campaign that read "Catch it Bin it kill it" on Saturday in an attempt to quell the rising number of flu cases.

According to Professor John Oxford, an influenza virologist at Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry in London, "These figures are just a snapshot of the current situation across Europe, but it could have something to do with the movement of people at this time of year... We can expect the number of cases to keep going up, possibly reaching epidemic limits before it peaks in the next two to four weeks... This is a virus that thrives on close human contact so we can expect an explosion in cases after the New Year celebrations... It is good to see the Government has decided to restart its campaign to encourage good hygiene - this is the first line of defence against the flu virus."

Black alert

Statistics released by the Department of Health on Christmas Eve showed that 460 people were receiving intensive treatment for flu. Most hospitals have declared alerts for the outbreak. James Paget University Hospital in Great Yarmouth declared a "black alert" - the most severe status level - on Thursday while Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is on Red Alert. NHS pressure group Health Emergency Chairman Geoff Martin said, "The NHS is now on the brink of the worst winter crisis in over a decade as the harsh reality of cuts to beds and staffing numbers is exposed with lethal consequences." A spokeswoman for the Department of Health added, "GPs have already been asked to check their stocks [of flu vaccine]. If they have run out, they have already been advised to work with neighbouring practices or the PCT to obtain further supplies...The vaccine manufacturers and suppliers still have stocks available for ordering."

Vaccination rates are also not satisfactory say experts. The Government is currently immunising only those in at-risk groups. Fewer than half of all under-65s in at-risk groups, and just over two-thirds of those over 65, have been vaccinated. The confusion over who is eligible for the jab may have been caused by changes to those officially designated at risk. For example, "healthy" pregnant women, without other risk factors, were included in this category for the first time this autumn. Parents have also complained that children aged under five have been denied the seasonal flu jab as GPs await instructions on who they can give it to.

Northern Ireland worst hit

Speaking on children, Meirion Evans, of the UK Faculty of Public Health said, "Flu does spread more easily during term time because students or children mix together more." Dr Evans warned that vaccination might well be too late for those going back to school adding, "It is late in the season to be getting vaccinated; with a lot of the flu in circulation now you run the risk that you've shut the stable door after the horse has bolted. If you get exposed to flu a few days after the injection it won't do much to help you."

Of all Northern Ireland has the highest rate of infection in the UK, with 132 cases per 100 000 reported, compared with 124 in England and Wales, and 55.8 in Scotland. Lorraine Doherty, Northern Ireland's assistant director of public health said, "Our flu cases have increased uniformly throughout the province, so there's no evidence it is the water issue, but it is a challenge to maintain the same hygiene standards without running water ... I anticipate [infections] will further increase next week."