The Health Protection Agency (HPA), UK, informed yesterday 3rd July, 2009, in its weekly update that the total number of confirmed human cases of Swine Flu A(H1N1) infection has reached 7,447. British health authorities estimate that the figure will be over 100,000 by the end of this summer.

The UK government says that it is now moving to a new phase in the current pandemic response – there will be a change to the surveillance information that the HPA will be able to provide in future. To date, the HPA has been carrying out laboratory testing of suspected swine flu infection cases since the onset of the outbreak in April 2009. The HPA’s updates have been based on the total number of positive test results being confirmed through the Centre for Infections and the HPA’s regional network of laboratories.

The new policy means that measures to try to contain the pandemic will move to providing suitable treatment to infected people. Nationally, clinicians will from now on rely on patients’ signs and symptoms and not on laboratory tests to diagnose swine flu infection. Although a percentage of patients will be tested in order to gather up-to-date data about the virus, the reporting of laboratory confirmations will no longer be an accurate way to record the spread of infection.

  • East of England – 411
  • East Midlands – 147
  • London – 1939
  • North East – 47
  • North West – 97
  • South East – 598
  • South West – 198
  • West Midlands – 2582
  • Yorkshire & Humber – 143

    • TOTAL ENGLAND – 6162

  • Northern Ireland – 34
  • Scotland – 1217
  • Wales – 34

    • TOTAL UK – 7447

Written by Christian Nordqvist