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Swine flu fears grow in Britain
Britain is to change the way it deals with the H1N1 flu outbreak after projections that over 100,000 new cases a day could be emerging by the end of August.
- Reuters
- Published: 22:48 July 2, 2009
London: Britain is to change the way it deals with the H1N1 flu outbreak after projections that over 100,000 new cases a day could be emerging by the end of August.
Faced with such huge numbers, the focus will switch to treating the disease rather than trying to contain it.
Confirmed cases are doubling every week, putting pressure on health services, Health Secretary Andy Burnham said yesterday.
"On this trend, we could see over 100,000 cases per day by the end of August - though I stress this is only a projection," he told the House of Commons.
The first doses of a pandemic flu vaccine would arrive in Britain by the end of August, with 60 million doses available by the end of the year, enough for 30 million people, or about half the population.
Most people who have caught the infection have only suffered mild symptoms, but in a small minority it has proved more severe, with three deaths in Britain so far.
"We have always known it would be impossible to contain the virus indefinitely and that at some point we would have to move away from containment to treating the increasing numbers falling ill," Burnham said.
Health officials will target antivirals at the most vulnerable, who should contact their GP as soon as possible if they think they have H1N1 flu.
These include all those with certain long term conditions, compromised immune systems, people over 65, pregnant women and children under five.
Antivirals will continue to be offered to patients with the flu or showing symptoms, although it will remain at the discretion of doctors whether to prescribe them.
"I know that local GP surgeries and hospitals are coming under increased pressure," Burnham said. "It's important we do everything we can to reduce the strain on local health services."
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