04.02.11
Number of new flu cases continues to fall
The number of flu cases is at a fifth of the level of five weeks ago.
During the past week there have been 24.1 GP consultations per 100,000 population in England involving people reporting flu-like symptoms, down from 40.7 last week and 124 five weeks ago.
The number of critical care beds occupied by people with flu-like symptoms is 160, down from 247 last week and from 850 at its peak.
There have been 395 deaths during the current flu season, but the vast majority of the 57 deaths reported in the past week occurred up to six weeks ago.
Professor Dame Sally Davies, Interim Chief Medical Officer said: “It's been a tough winter and I thank everyone working in the NHS for their hard work and dedication so far. The NHS has been under pressure but, thanks to the detailed planning that was put in place in advance, it has coped fantastically well.
“It is reassuring to see that cases have continued to decline again this week. But winter isn't over yet and we still all need to be on our guard against flu. That means catching our germs in a tissue, throwing it in a bin and washing our hands regularly, catch it, bin it, kill it.”
She added: “It’s still not too late for people in an at risk group to be vaccinated.”
At the peak of the flu season this winter, 23% of critical care capacity was being taken up by people with severe flu symptoms.
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