'Swine flu' rates drop for third week

RATES of suspected swine flu in Notts have dropped for the third successive week.

There were 37 GP consultations with flu-like illness for every 100,000 Nottingham residents between November 9 and 15 - down from 40 the previous week.

In Notts outside the city the rate per 100,000 went down from 48 to 37 in the same period.

In the East Midlands, the number of swine flu-related hospital admissions fell from 82 to 74 between November 12 and 18.

The Government says the swine flu vaccination programme will now be extended to all children over six months and under five years old.

Children of this age are more likely than any other to develop complications if they fall ill with swine flu.

Those between six months and five years in medical at-risk groups were among those already being vaccinated against the H1N1 virus.

Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson, said: "Our first priority is to ensure that people with clinical risk factors, and frontline health and social care staff are vaccinated.

"Protecting those most at risk from the disease will reduce the levels of serious illness, and deaths."