Swine flu cases fall, but vigilance still needed

The number of suspected swine flu cases being reported to doctors in Lincolnshire has dropped.

County GPs say 360 people reported flu-like symptoms between Monday, July 27 and Sunday, August 2.

The week before 1,249 people claimed they had fallen ill.

Health experts say the drop could be due to the introduction of a new national swine flu helpline.

Patients are now encouraged to log onto a national website or ring the helpline as a first port of call rather than ring their surgery.

Those diagnosed with swine flu can be given Tamiflu prescription through the system.

Dr Mandy Bretman, director of public health for NHS Lincolnshire, said she expected there would be a dip in the number of people displaying symptoms of swine flu before the autumn.

"The number of swine flu cases recorded by Lincolnshire GPs was likely to reduce once the National Flu Pandemic Service was launched.

"This is being reflected in the numbers of cases currently being recorded falling from 170 per 100,000 to 49 per 100,000.

"NHS Lincolnshire is following the national pattern. This is what we would expect and is the nature of a flu virus.

"The history of previous flu pandemics suggests that the current viral strain will spread more widely in the autumn or winter and it is possible that the virus will mutate into a stronger strain. "Whilst we have seen this fall in numbers there is no room for complacency and we will to continue to review our plans and how we respond to the changes, working closely with our partner organisations across the county."

For the full story see Saturday's Lincolnshire Echo.