How many people have died as a result of seasonal flu this year?
Nationally in the past week, the HPA has been notified of a further 11 people who have died with confirmed flu, bringing the total number since the flu season began in October this year to 50. 45 of these people died with the H1N1 strain and five with Influenza B. The majority were under 65 years of age – eight cases between 5-14, 33 cases aged between15-64 and four cases over 64 years. Since October there have been five deaths in children under the age of five. The majority of people who have died had underlying health conditions.
It is important to emphasise that this data is likely to be incomplete because of the methods used to identify cases. For this reason, the Department of Health has taken the decision not to break these figures down on a regional or sub-regional level as they would be difficult to interpret meaningfully.
Any death is a great loss to family members and friends – and our priority has to be to give them the support they need at a difficult time and protect their right to confidentiality.
More information on this issue can be found here >>>
Is the swine flu pandemic back?
No. However swine flu or the H1N1 virus, which sparked a pandemic last year, never really went away. Influenza is a largely seasonal phenomenon, with peaks every winter and very low background levels at other times. Flu pandemics are the exception, and as last year showed, they can begin in any season.
The swine flu pandemic is over. The term "pandemic" is used to describe a world wide spread of a new disease. Flu pandemics occur when a new strain of the virus emerges with different characteristics to normal flu. For example, seasonal flu usually occurs in the winter months, but in 2009 swine flu was seen throughout the summer. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic over in August 2010, when it could be seen that the virus was beginning to behave like seasonal flu.
Seasonal flu – which is what we are dealing with now - is a virus that spreads every winter. There are three strains of flu virus in circulation at the moment – one of which is H1N1.
How is the NHS managing the current situation?
Each NHS organisation has plans in place to manage changes in demand. Each winter we experience an increased demand for critical care caused by a drop in temperature that can trigger more heart-attacks and strokes, a rise in the number of flu cases and more accidents caused by icy conditions.
As part of these plans, we look at how we can increase the number of critical care beds if we need to – and these plans include over the winter season. This can include postponing some non-urgent, non-life-threatening procedures.
In the North West we are currently experiencing high numbers of people in critical care with confirmed and suspected seasonal flu. As a result, critical care beds are being managed on a regional basis by the strategic health authority (NHS North West), in conjunction with the three critical care networks within the region, in order to ensure that anyone who needs intensive care – whether that is as a result of flu, or for some other reason – can get the expert care that they need. As part of our regional plan, we have asked all hospitals in the North West to temporarily postpone non-urgent, non-life-threatening procedures.
This action will make it possible to move staff who have experience of treating people in critical care to where they are needed, so that we can make more beds available.
Anyone who needs emergency or time-critical surgical treatment is being reviewed on a case by case basis by clinicians and treatment and can go ahead if necessary.
In addition, some day-case treatments, which do not require critical care back-up, are also proceeding.
Clinical teams are, where possible, contacting people on an individual basis to inform them if their treatment has been postponed, or if it is going ahead as planned.
The situation is being reviewed on a daily basis at a regional level – and all procedures will be re-booked as soon as possible.
What impact is all of this having on patients?
We would like to ask the public to be patient with the NHS and supportive during this time. NHS teams are working extremely hard to maintain safe services – and ensure those of us who need emergency care can access it. We will ensure that services are returned to normal as soon as possible.
We also need people to be supportive of the Choose Well campaign. If you are a normally healthy adult and have a common complaint, please self-treat in the first instance – for more information visit our Choose Well pages.
What should people do to protect themselves?
Catch it. Bin it. Kill it
It is worth stressing that flu is a vaccine-preventable illness. The HPA has urged people in at-risk groups to get immunised. The seasonal flu vaccine is always trivalent - so it protects against the three most likely circulating strains of flu. This year the seasonal flu vaccine contains antigens against the influenza type A strains H1N1 and H3N2 and against flu B. GPs can also offer Pandemrix, which protects against the H1N1 strain.
Maintaining good cough and hand hygiene, such as covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible and cleaning your hands as soon you can are important actions that can help prevent the spread of germs and reduce the risk of transmission.
Who should get a flu jab?
The seasonal flu vaccine (which includes protection against H1N1) is recommended for those aged 65 and over and those with chronic heart, lung, metabolic disorders (including severe asthma and diabetes), kidney problems or a lowered immune system due to treatment or disease.
Vaccination is also recommended for pregnant women and those living in long-stay residential care homes or other long stay care facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection and cause high morbidity and mortality (this does not include prisons, young offenders' institutions, or university halls of residence).
Vaccination is also recommended for carers defined as those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill. This should be given on an individual basis at the GP’s discretion in the context of other clinical risk groups in their practice. In addition, it is recommended that immunisation be offered to all health care workers involved in the delivery of care and/or support to patients.
Vaccination of frontline health and social care workers is a key infection control measure, both to protect staff and to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to vulnerable patients.
www.nhs.uk has a full list of those eligible for a free flu jab.
Should children be vaccinated?
Children who are in at risk groups will be offered a vaccine by their GP. The national Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has looked at the issue of offering vaccination to healthy children either 0-4 years and/or 5-15 years of age. However, although there is a high incidence of influenza-like illness currently in these age groups, a significant proportion of this is due to other viruses such Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
The JCVI has stated: “We do not believe that seasonal or pandemic vaccine should be used for these or other healthy person groups.”
Are there any problems with supply of vaccine?
If this year’s seasonal flu vaccine is not available, GPs have been told they can instead offer the Pandemrix vaccine used last year to vaccinate people within at risk groups. GPs are able to order more supplies of the Pandemrix vaccine if they need to.
I have an egg-allergy – can I have the vaccine?
The HPA has issued clear guidance for GPs on vaccinating people with egg-allergies. There are a number of vaccines – including this year’s seasonal flu vaccine and the Pandemrix vaccine – that have very low levels of traces of egg product in them. They can be administered to those who have egg-allergies under clinical supervision.
Please talk to your GP if you have any concerns.
