Seven more swine flu deaths in Wales
SEVEN more swine flu deaths have been reported in Wales.
It takes the total number of deaths to 21. One person from Wales has also died abroad.
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Seven more swine flu deaths in Wales
The increase in deaths contrasts with a fall in overall cases.
These dropped in the week ending November 15 to 36 cases of flu-like illness diagnosed by GPs out of every 100,000 people in Wales. The figure the week before was 65.8 per 100,000.
But current levels of flu in Wales remain higher than usual for the time of year.
And health chiefs are now turning their attention to very young children who seem to be most affected by the virus.
Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, said: "The four UK Health Ministers have agreed that the second phase of the swine flu vaccination programme should focus on all children aged six months and over and under five years.
"Evidence shows that young children are suffering the greatest overall impact from the disease. They are particularly vulnerable to complications and more likely to become seriously ill and need hospital treatment than other groups. Young children are effective spreaders of the disease and the clinical attack rate is also higher, meaning a greater proportion of children will become ill. "Vaccination will mean that fewer children in this age group will become seriously ill and need hospital treatment.
"Vaccination is the simplest, safest and most effective way of protecting people's health and will help in our efforts to minimise its impact on individuals and communities.
"We expect vaccination to be through GPs, and are exploring with the GPC how best to do this. The programme will begin very shortly once phase one of the vaccination programme targeting the original priority groups is coming to an end. "Parents will be contacted by their GP surgery inviting them to have their eligible children vaccinated.
"In addition, advice has suggested that main carers for elderly or disabled people should be an important next group. We will discuss this advice with carers' organisations, including a number of practical questions, including how to identify and verify the carers involved."
He said that while the vast majority of people who contracted swine flu got over it within five to seven days, with rest, plenty of fluids and paracetamol, some people experienced severe complications and even died.
"Sadly, this week we have seen a further increase in swine flu-related deaths. However, we are aware that a number of these people had been seriously ill for some time.
"This is a tragedy for the families and friends of the individuals but unfortunately, we have been expecting to see an increase in the number of deaths. This is the same for seasonal flu in the winter.
"Whilst reported cases of swine flu have recently started declining, it is too early to draw any conclusions about the number of future cases."
In all, 580 laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported by the National Public Health Service since the start of the outbreak.
A total of 377 people confirmed with swine flu in Wales have been admitted to hospital since the start of the outbreak. 46 of these cases were still in hospital as of November 17.
Two immunosuppressed patients being treated for H1N1v Influenza virus (swine flu) at an un-named South Wales hospital have been found to have developed resistance to oseltamivir (Tamiflu).
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The NPHS said the emergence of influenza A viruses that were resistant to Tamiflu was not unexpected in patients with serious underlying conditions and suppressed immune systems, who still tested positive for the virus despite treatment.
"Initial investigations suggest that the resistance developed during treatment and that the resistant virus has not spread from patient to patient. This is in line with findings throughout the world," said a spokesman.
"The patients have been given alternative antiviral treatment, and one has made a full recovery while the other continues to be monitored."
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