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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Swine flu incidence 'is slowing' | Swine flu incidence 'is slowing' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| There are indications the number of swine flu cases in England is no longer rising rapidly and may have "plateaued", officials have said. | There are indications the number of swine flu cases in England is no longer rising rapidly and may have "plateaued", officials have said. |
| There were an estimated 110,000 new cases of swine flu last week, compared with 100,000 the week before. | There were an estimated 110,000 new cases of swine flu last week, compared with 100,000 the week before. |
| There was a substantial reduction in children aged five to 14 consulting GPs, coinciding with the start of the school holidays. | There was a substantial reduction in children aged five to 14 consulting GPs, coinciding with the start of the school holidays. |
| England's swine flu helpline also launched last week. | England's swine flu helpline also launched last week. |
| The telephone and web-based helpline service is designed to relieve pressures on the NHS and GPs. | The telephone and web-based helpline service is designed to relieve pressures on the NHS and GPs. |
| Those with symptoms including a fever or temperature over 38C or 100.4F - coupled with unusual tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or cough, loss of appetite, aching muscles, diarrhoea or vomiting - are eligible for anti-viral drugs. | Those with symptoms including a fever or temperature over 38C or 100.4F - coupled with unusual tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or cough, loss of appetite, aching muscles, diarrhoea or vomiting - are eligible for anti-viral drugs. |
| In the first seven days of the service, 150,000 people were given tamiflu. | In the first seven days of the service, 150,000 people were given tamiflu. |
| England's Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said he believed that many of these cases were in people who would not have gone to the GP and previously would have been undiagnosed. | England's Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said he believed that many of these cases were in people who would not have gone to the GP and previously would have been undiagnosed. |
| The virus has had its fill of us for the moment Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer | The virus has had its fill of us for the moment Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer |
| "I think we are probably seeing a downturn in the illness at the moment but we don't anticipate it staying away," he said. | "I think we are probably seeing a downturn in the illness at the moment but we don't anticipate it staying away," he said. |
| "We expect to see a big surge in autumn." | "We expect to see a big surge in autumn." |
| GP consultations had previously been doubling week on week. | GP consultations had previously been doubling week on week. |
| Figures suggest that some different areas are now being affected, with higher rates than previously in some areas of the North West and South West. | Figures suggest that some different areas are now being affected, with higher rates than previously in some areas of the North West and South West. |
| Overall around one in every 150 people in England has had swine flu so far and there have been 27 deaths. | Overall around one in every 150 people in England has had swine flu so far and there have been 27 deaths. |
| This figure is higher in younger age groups with one in 90 under ones and one in 77 one to four year olds infected since the start of the pandemic. | This figure is higher in younger age groups with one in 90 under ones and one in 77 one to four year olds infected since the start of the pandemic. |
| Call for clarity | Call for clarity |
| Earlier this week a report from the Lords' science and technology committee criticised the government's handling of swine flu saying some of its pandemic plans were under-prepared. | Earlier this week a report from the Lords' science and technology committee criticised the government's handling of swine flu saying some of its pandemic plans were under-prepared. |
| It said the national swine flu helpline in England should also have been set up sooner and asked for assurances that it will cope with high demand this autumn. | It said the national swine flu helpline in England should also have been set up sooner and asked for assurances that it will cope with high demand this autumn. |
| And it called for for clarity on how intensive and critical care departments will cope with high patient numbers. | And it called for for clarity on how intensive and critical care departments will cope with high patient numbers. |
| Intensive care specialists had already warned that swine flu cases could overwhelm intensive care departments in England. | Intensive care specialists had already warned that swine flu cases could overwhelm intensive care departments in England. |
| Ian Dalton, the National Director for NHS Flu Resilience, said he was working with the 10 Strategic Health Authorities to produce an updated critical care plan by the end of August. | Ian Dalton, the National Director for NHS Flu Resilience, said he was working with the 10 Strategic Health Authorities to produce an updated critical care plan by the end of August. |
| "It will set out the action that has to be taken in order to increase critical care capacity. | "It will set out the action that has to be taken in order to increase critical care capacity. |
| "I would like to reassure people that this will build on a lot of previous planning," he said. | "I would like to reassure people that this will build on a lot of previous planning," he said. |
| There has been a slight rise in swine flu cases in Scotland, with 4,300 cases in the past week. | There has been a slight rise in swine flu cases in Scotland, with 4,300 cases in the past week. |
| Wales is also reporting a small rise in cases of flu-like illness with 4,410 in the past week and Northern Ireland saw 10 new cases. | Wales is also reporting a small rise in cases of flu-like illness with 4,410 in the past week and Northern Ireland saw 10 new cases. |
| The flu service is not covering the rest of the UK, as Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have all experienced much less demand. | The flu service is not covering the rest of the UK, as Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have all experienced much less demand. |
| The flu hotline number is 0800 1 513 100 | The flu hotline number is 0800 1 513 100 |