Northern Ireland has sixteen new reported cases of H1NI swine flu according to the latest weekly updated figures compiled by the Department of Health. The total number of laboratory confirmed cases now stands at 83 for the North. This increase is in stark contrast to ALL other regions of the UK which claim a substantial drop in reported infections.
The most recent figures for H1N1 for the rest of the British Isles are as follows;
- England: A significant drop from 110,000 two weeks ago to approx. 30,000 cases last week.
- Scotland: Reduction of 450 cases to 1,050 last week.
- Wales: Estimated 2,670 last week compared to 4,410 in the previous week
The Republic of Ireland has also witnessed a reduction in the number of GP reported cases. Latest figures released reported approximately 1,400 cases of the H1N1 virus which is equivalent to 32.5 cases per 100,000 of the Republic’s population.
Announcing the latest statistics, Dr John Devlin Deputy, Ireland’s chief medical officer reported that instances of the H1N1 virus had “stabilised” following a dramatic jump from 12.5 to 37 cases per 100,000 the previous week.
However, the Irish chief medical officer opted on the side of caution regarding the future spread of H1N1;
“I must say that we do expect the number in the community and in hospitals to rise again”
During his weekly governmental briefing Dr Devlin also concurred that the current rate of H1N1 swine flu infection was significantly less in comparison to recorded data for the common flu occurrence in January of this year (120 cases per 100,000).
Dr Devlin went onto to elaborate upon the demographics of the GP reported cases. Of those pronounced to have contracted the H1N1 virus, 70 per cent were under 30 and that there was an increase of in the localised spread of the disease within Ireland. Also 50% of those infected were declared to have been suffering from underlying illnesses. As regards those the 27 people that had been hospitalised after contracting H1N1, two were still being treated in intensive care.
Provision of H1N1 Swine Flu VaccineThe World Health Organization has moved to diffuse speculation over the availability of ample H1N1 swine flu vaccines by announcing that they are likely to be licensed for dispensing by September.
Several manufacturers have produced initial batches of a H1N1 vaccine and some clinical trials are already underway.
Regarding potential side effects from the actual swine flu vaccines, WHO Director of Vaccine Research, Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, offered her reassurance about the safety of new vaccines by saying the vaccine production methods were based on "old and proven technology". In light of recent press speculation about possible links between the vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Alleged associations between swine flu vaccination and this potentially deadly side effect dates back to the last swine flu epidemic scare in 1976. Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare neurological condition where the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks the nerves resulting in temporary muscle weakness or paralysis.
United Kingdom Ministers have strenuously sought to reassure the public that there will be sufficient supplies of H1N1 vaccine for 50% of the UK population by the year end. In the Republic of Ireland Gavin Maguire, Health Service Executive (HSE) assistant head of emergency planning in the), Gavin Maguire, insisted that adequate volumes of the vaccine would be available by the end of September/October although “as of now we don’t actually have a delivery schedule”. The Irish government plans to purchase some 7.7 million vaccines (€80 million) from three foreign pharmaceutical companies, GlaxoSmith-Kline, Baxter Healthcare and Allphar Services.
Both Irish and UK government health bodies expect a dramatic increase in H1N1 swine flu cases during the autumn/winter period of this year.
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: It has just been confirmed that an Irish woman has died from human swine flu today at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin. She is the first Irish person to succomb to the lethal H1N1 virus in the country since it was first confirmed in May.
Department of Health officials said this evening that the woman had an underlying medical condition. Tallaght hospital released a statement saying that the woman had been treated in an individual room from the time she was admitted and the hospital's Influenza Pandemic Flu Committee had implemented 'all necessary measures to ensure both the safety of other patients and staff within the Hospital'.
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3 comments:
We in the North are about 6 weeks behind England, as England is about 6 weeks behind America in this outbreak.
And these cases in the north are not accurate as where I live I know of many more people who have had it, or have it now.
Me thinks we are all fooked in the Autumn.
every death is a tragedy, no matter how it happens.
sorry to hear such sad news.
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