The weekly number of new swine flu or Influenza A H1N1 cases in the UK continues to fall, the Chief Medical Officer said in his latest pandemic flu update. Sir Liam Donaldson said that in the week to August 27 there were an estimated 5,000 new infections, down from 11,000 the week before.
A further five people with swine flu have died, bringing the UK total to 65. There have been 57 deaths in England, six in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) also said that:
– The majority of cases continue to be mild. There is no sign that the virus is changing. It is not becoming more severe or developing resistance to anti-virals,
– A second wave of H1N1 infections in the UK is still expected later in the year,
– There were 218 people with swine flu hospitalised in England (as of 8am on 26 August),
– There have been over 2,500 deaths worldwide
– In the past seven days, cases reported globally have increased by 8% and the number of deaths by 21%.
Source: NHS Choices, UK