Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Tuesday, 9th February 2010

Blackpool hit by 40 swine flu cases

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date:
10 July 2009
HEALTH bosses have confirmed 40 people in Blackpool are suffering from suspected swine flu.
And chiefs from NHS North Lancashire, which covers Fylde and Wyre, have issued 50 doses of anti-viral medication to people suffering from symptoms of the virus.

Experts have now admitted the virus can no longer be contained.

Last week there were no confirmed cases of swine flu in the resort.

But now 40 people, including children, adults and pensioners, have been diagnosed as having suspected swine flu by their family doctors.

All 40 are being treated with the anti-viral drug, Tamiflu, but their friends and family are not being given the drugs.

Health chiefs insist the Fylde coast is well stocked with drugs to treat swine flu.

Dr Amanda Doyle, medical director for NHS Blackpool, said: "We have 40 patients who are displaying the symptoms of suspected swine flu. We are treating them with anti-viral drugs.

"So far, none of the cases have been severe.

"There is no cause for concern. We have systems set up and plenty of anti-virals, which are being given to everyone with symptoms."

A spokesman for NHS North Lancashire added: "We are monitoring the situation on a regular basis to see if there are any significant changes in numbers.

"Measures are being taken to reduce the spread within schools."

One worker at JobCentre Plus at Marton Mere has been diagnosed with swine flu.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "We are following Department of Heath guidance on swine flu.

"Any staff who think they may have symptoms are advised to stay at home and get advice from their doctor. The contact centre is operating as normal."

Dr Doyle said: "People should continue to go about their business as normal and go to work and school unless they are displaying symptoms."

Health Secretary Andy Burnham has stated the number of new cases of swine flu could reach 100,000 every day by next month.

Singer Coleen Nolan today revealed her son Jake had contracted swine flu.

The 16-year-old, who suffers from asthma, was staying at actor dad Shane Richie's London home on Wednesday when he was struck by a crippling headache and fever and was taken to a GP.

Jake is now at home where he is recovering. Coleen told the Daily Mirror: "It's been a terrible worry."

Nationally, 14 people in the UK are now thought to have died after contracting swine flu.

Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 10 July 2009 8:26 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Blackpool
 
Prev
1
Next
1

Foxhead,

Blackpool 10/07/2009 14:41:47
I am still no wiser about what is so different about Swine Flu, compared to ordinary flu.

They both seem to be the same, so why all the fuss?
2

TheSteed,

Blackpool 10/07/2009 16:44:28
Swine flu is a mutation of animal influenza, whereas normal flu is one of several different strains of human influenza.

Because animal influenza is not inherent to humans, it can lead to more severe symptoms, such as pneumonia
3

Geovanni,

Blackpool 10/07/2009 18:51:27
Does anyone know what the first symptoms are?
4

BlackpoolRockSeller,

Crackling Corner...... 10/07/2009 19:31:39
An aversion to bacon.................
5

Little'Un,

10/07/2009 20:03:48
Most, if not all, the people who have died have had other serious health conditions too; I agree people need to be careful but there is a lot of media hype too
6

icecubesiz,

blackpool 10/07/2009 20:08:11
could any one tell me if there is any medication for babies under 6 mth?what are the symptoms in babies?
7

AbFab34,

11/07/2009 02:47:36
#5 - Very true little'un.
More evidence you cannot trust this government! Its only ten days ago that they said that within 'the next' few days' we would be seeing 100,000 new cases each day i.e. 3 million per month. The media hype is unbelievable. Based on the government 'estimates' 5 per cent of the population should be infected each month. For Blackpool therefore we should be seeing around 5,000 cases of swine flu each month not the 40 in total quoted by the NHS Trust!

It is true sadly that most of those unfortunate enough to have succumbed to this illness had major underlying other illnesses as well so were more vulnerable. There has been the odd case now of otherwise healthy people dying from the illness but we should keep things in perspective.
8

unknown oo7,

Blackpool 13/07/2009 10:18:02
Yesterday i rang the doctors and she said i had all the symptoms of swine flu and she had been diagnosing it all day i was told to carry on taking taking what i was taking, too stay in and keep away from others, i wasn't offered the antivaral drug as she said to me it only works its best is it is taken in the first 24 hours as i started with it on the thursday and it now was sunday, no swab,nothing so the antiviral drug is not being given to everyone.
Prev
1
Next

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.