Swine flu claims another victim in North
Swine flu has claimed another victim in the North, the Health minister announced today.
The adult patient - the 11th with the virus to die in the North - had underlying health problems, Michael McGimpsey said.
Despite the fatality earlier this week, the latest official data suggests local swine flu activity is falling.
The number of laboratory confirmed cases has dropped from 215 last week to 153 this, while GP appointments have decreased by almost 10%.
While 87 individuals were hospitalised last week, the number admitted in the past seven days was only 50
Furthermore, anti-viral prescriptions have halved in the same period, from 2,837 to 1,374.
"Sadly, we have been notified of the death of an adult with underlying health conditions who has tested positive for swine flu," said the minister.
"I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the family of this patient. We should all now respect their privacy and allow them to grieve in peace for their loved one."
The minister added: "A further decrease in consultation rates in the past week is encouraging and suggests that our preparations are working. However, swine flu still continues to circulate widely in the community and it is vital that we do not become complacent."
Presenting the weekly swine flu bulletin, Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said while the figures were encouraging they did not mean the pandemic was over.
He said it could be evidence of fluctuations in the virus's spread.
"It would be premature to say that we have reached a peak in this wave, however the indicators this week are encouraging," he said.
"I think it is worth noting that is the first time we have seen a decrease two weeks in succession. I would caveat that by saying that we always anticipated that there might be fluctuations - this may reflect nothing more than a further fluctuation.
"We'll get a better idea of things next week, if the decreasing trend continues."
Dr McBride also outlined how capacity in intensive care would be increased if the worst case scenario developed in the North.
Health officials have plans to increase from 57 to 158 the number of adult ICU beds, from eight to 49 children's beds and 21 to 42 neo-natal cots.
