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| NHS told to be on alert for flu | NHS told to be on alert for flu |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The NHS must remain "on top of its game" in the battle against swine flu, the chief medical officer says, despite the number of new cases falling. | The NHS must remain "on top of its game" in the battle against swine flu, the chief medical officer says, despite the number of new cases falling. |
| Department of Health figures show that in the past week there were 5,000 infections in England - compared to over 100,000 at the start of the month. | Department of Health figures show that in the past week there were 5,000 infections in England - compared to over 100,000 at the start of the month. |
| But Sir Liam Donaldson said while it was mostly a mild illness, it was still having serious complications for some. | But Sir Liam Donaldson said while it was mostly a mild illness, it was still having serious complications for some. |
| The death toll has now reached 66 - up seven from last week. | |
| Sir Liam said the NHS and wider public must not be lulled into thinking the worst had passed. | Sir Liam said the NHS and wider public must not be lulled into thinking the worst had passed. |
| He said despite the fall in the number of new infections, the levels of flu being seen was still unusual for the summer months. | He said despite the fall in the number of new infections, the levels of flu being seen was still unusual for the summer months. |
| "The health service needs to be on top of its game. | "The health service needs to be on top of its game. |
| "It is normally a mild illlness, but for some it continues to be very serious. | "It is normally a mild illlness, but for some it continues to be very serious. |
| "We don't know what will happen next, but our best guess is that we will get some kind of rise during our flu season." | "We don't know what will happen next, but our best guess is that we will get some kind of rise during our flu season." |
| Hospital | Hospital |
| As well as the six extra deaths - three of which were in England, two in Scotland and one each in Wales and Northern Ireland - there are still more than 200 people in hospital with swine flu. | |
| However, the overall pressure on the health service has fallen again slightly - as it has done throughout August. | However, the overall pressure on the health service has fallen again slightly - as it has done throughout August. |
| The number of people going to a GP with flu-like illness was 16.5 per 100,000 in England - half of what would be expected during a bad winter - compared to 21 last week. | The number of people going to a GP with flu-like illness was 16.5 per 100,000 in England - half of what would be expected during a bad winter - compared to 21 last week. |
| Similar rates were also seen in Scotland and Wales, although for Northern Ireland they remain a little higher. | Similar rates were also seen in Scotland and Wales, although for Northern Ireland they remain a little higher. |
| However, each part of the UK has seen a fall since the peak at the end of July and beginning of August. | However, each part of the UK has seen a fall since the peak at the end of July and beginning of August. |
| Demand for the National Flu Service, the web and phone service which is operational in England, has also fallen. | Demand for the National Flu Service, the web and phone service which is operational in England, has also fallen. |