Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSSwine flu numbers continue to fall, but autumn surge expected
Despite a considerable fall in the number of people newly diagnosed with swine flu in the UK, the Government is braced for a surge in cases the autumn.
According to the chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson, just one in 10 people reporting flu-like symptoms to their GP or the National Pandemic Flu Service for England was diagnosed with the virus.
Even though it is “virtually impossible” to accurately predict when a second wave of swine flu will attack the country, government officials say that cases will surge in September and October when schools and universities go back after the summer break.
Latest data estimates there were 11,000 new cases in England last week, down from the 25,000 figure estimated for the week before.
Around 263 patients are being treated in hospital in England, of which 30 are in intensive care, down from last week’s 371 with 39 in intensive care.
As many as 54 deaths were recorded in the country due to the virus, with 25 out of them having died in London and an additional five deaths in Scotland.
Monday tends to be the day of the week when the Pandemic Flu Service sees the highest levels of activity.
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