SWINE flu cases in the North West have gone up for the second week, but health leaders are reporting the virus is mild to moderate for most people affected.
The number of anti-virals collected in the region on September 23 doubled from the number collected on September 9 – 522 to 1,086. The number of people being treated in hospital has gone up to 39 from 25.
Dr Ruth Hussey, North West regional director for Public Health said: “We’ve seen a rise in the number of swine flu cases and a small increase in the number of people being treated in hospital.
“There are a couple of factors that could be affecting the numbers, the main one being the return to school, with five outbreaks in schools in the North West in the past fortnight.”
