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Medics gearing up for swine flu increase
A SWINE flu vaccination programme has been launched to immunise vulnerable people in a bid to cope with a predicted second wave of the virus as we head towards winter, with Belper GPs urging people in high risk groups to get the jab.
Over the next month, vaccinations will be rolled out to primary care trusts, hospitals and GP practices to immunise more than 14 million people in the priority and high risk groups – front line health care staff, seriously ill patients, those with damaged immune systems and pregnant women.
Bruce Laurence, deputy director of public health at Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust, which covers the Belper area, said: "Our vaccination programme will provide the best line of defence to people who are most at risk and to frontline NHS staff.
"It is essential that those in high risk groups who are invited to have a swine flu vaccination take up the offer."
Some GP practices in Derbyshire have already received their supply of the vaccine and will be contacting priority patients over the next few weeks.
The Royal Derby and Chesterfield Royal hospitals have also already begun the vaccination programme.
Stephanie Haslam, manager at Belper's Whitemoor Medical Centre, said: "Delivery of the vaccine is scheduled within the week.
"We will be calling in eligible patients according to guidelines stipulated by the Department of Health. We will contact patients for the swine flu vaccination clinics and we urge patients to keep their appointment."
The same applies for the Riversdale Surgery, on Bridge Street.
In the week beginning October 15, the number of new swine flu cases reported in England doubled to 53,000 and health experts predict as many as 12 per cent of the population could get swine flu in the coming months. For children, it could be as high as one in three.
Belper's surgeries said they had not experienced a dramatic rise in patients in the second wave of the virus, and contingency plans were in place if or when the town was hit.
The number of deaths from swine flu in the UK now stands at 140 and six of these have been in the East Midlands. It is estimated almost 14,000 people have had swine flu in Derbyshire and just over 500,000 people have been infected nationwide.
Young children are considered to be a high risk group for the virus, but headteacher John Murday, of Belper's Herbert Strutt Primary School, said: "There haven't been any cases at the school as far as we are aware.
"It doesn't seem to be as high-profile as it has been in the past, but we are following all the procedures with washing hands and making sure surfaces are clean. It's something we've always encouraged, but if possible we are giving it more of a high profile.
"It's a largely mild virus. We're not too worried."
There are no signs the flu strain has mutated to become more deadly, and the estimated worst-case scenario for total deaths over the winter is 1,000 – compared with 7,000 for seasonal flu.
The two swine flu wards in the county are at Heanor Memorial Hospital in Ilkeston Road, Heanor, and Whitworth Hospital and there are two anti-viral collection points, with more being opened over the next couple of months.
If you think you have swine flu ring the National Pandemic Flu Service on 0800 151 3100. Contact your GP if you have an existing serious illness, you are pregnant, have a sick child under one or your condition gets suddenly worse.
Swine flu- facts and figures
The virus emerged in Mexico earlier this year where it has now killed just over 150 people.
It quickly spread to America and the rest of the world and was declared a global flu pandemic on June 11.
More than 5,700 swine flu deaths were reported by October 25, compared to nearly 5,000 the week before. The biggest rise was in America.
Ukraine has shut all schools and banned public meetings after its first swine flu death.
There have been 440,000 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus worldwide and 281 fatal cases in Europe
It is a new H1N1 virus – this means before this year's outbreak, this exact type of virus has never before circulated in humans.
Humans are not immune to the virus, so it has the potential for a greater impact than ordinary seasonal influenza.
Swine flu symptoms are very similar to normal flu symptoms and can only be formally diagnosed by a doctor.
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Weather for Belper
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
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Wind Speed: 10 mph
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