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Swine flu 'cannot be stopped' in worst areas as health services are swamped
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1195579/Swine-flu-stopped-worst-areas.html
By Jenny Hope    Last updated at 11:37 AM on 26th June 2009

Swine flu: A suspected sample



Health services in some areas of the country are so swamped with swine flu patients that they can no longer contain the disease, the Government has revealed.

In the worst hit places, schools will no longer be closed and the antiviral drug Tamiflu will only be given to those with symptoms and not those who have had close contact with a sufferer.

Health authorities in London and the West Midlands are switching to a policy of outbreak management.

Patients with swine flu will be now clinically diagnosed by a doctor, rather than confirmed by laboratory testing.

And enough swine flu vaccine has been ordered for every person in Britain, with the first stocks arriving this summer ahead of a predicted explosion in the virus during the colder months.

The pandemic has not reached the stage where the whole country should move to treatment rather than containment, as many areas are reporting relatively few cases, said chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson.

He predicted a surge involving 'tens of thousands of cases' of swine flu each week during the autumn and winter, when the virus is more likely to thrive.

So far 3,597 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the UK but the true figure is thought to be higher.

The first delivery of swine flu vaccine is expected in late August - ahead of schedule.

Altogether 60 million doses should be available by Christmas which, at two shots for a course of treatment, will protect 30 million people.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said contracts had been signed with GSK and Baxter for 130 million doses in total, enough for every Briton.

Talks are taking place with flu experts to decide how to prioritise the use of early supplies of vaccine, and of antiviral medication during later stages of the pandemic.

It is likely that not everybody with swine flu will receive Tamiflu, which may be reserved for at-risk groups.

There has been concern over the 'worried well' overloading hospitals in Birmingham.

Mr Burnham urged people to continue observing good hygiene, such as washing their hands, covering their mouth when coughing and disposing of dirty tissues.

'If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned, the advice is to stay at home' he said.

The Department of Health has written to flu directors at strategic health authorities to clarify the approach around moving to outbreak management.

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said 'We are now moving into a new phase of more community transmission. While we have supported the strategy to date, the Government need to provide more clarity on some of the key issues.

'We need to know how the national flu line will work and how anti-viral collection points will operate.'