Swine flu cases expected to rise

Hygiene advice is being offered to people

Cases of swine flu in Wales are rising slower than anywhere else in the UK, but health experts warn numbers will soon catch up.

Health officials said out of every 100,000 people in Wales, 12.2 cases of flu-like illness were reported.

This compared with 23.6 cases per 100,000 people in Scotland and 51.9 cases per 100,000 people in England.

There are 60 confirmed cases in Wales but GPs are no longer being asked to swab people with suspected swine flu.

Public health officials said around 100 new cases of people showing flu-like symptoms in Wales presented over a 24-hour period.

So far, four people with swine flu in Wales have had to have hospital treatment.

Across the UK, 14 people are now thought to have died after contracting the virus.

HYGIENE ADVICE

Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue where possible

Dispose of tissues promptly and carefully

Wash hands frequently with soap and water

Clean hard surfaces such as door handles regularly with a normal cleaning product

Help your children to follow hygiene advice

Source: National Public Health Service for Wales/Welsh Assembly Government

Dr Brendon Mason, consultant epidemiologist at National Public Health Service for Wales, said current flu numbers in Wales were below what public health officials would expect to see in seasonal flu.

He said: "The absolute levels, although they have increased over the last week, are still relatively low, and are much lower than we might see in a normal flu season.

"We've lagged behind England and Scotland by well over a month, really, and elsewhere, in the south east of England, they are probably 10 times what we're seeing now.

"Now we will move to those sort of levels, over the months that come, that's inevitable, but at the moment we're well behind the curve."

Wales' Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Jewell said an increase in cases in Wales was to be expected.

Mr Jewell said: "If people develop flu-like symptoms they should stay at home and check them using the various sources of information supplied - by leaflet, 24-hour telephone information lines or websites.

"For most people this illness is mild and gets better within 5-7 days. Anybody with severe symptoms needs to contact the GP or NHS Direct services.

"If in a high risk group such as those with heart and lung disease, children under five years old or pregnant women, you need to contact the GP services.

"Antiviral treatment is more effective if given within 48 hours. People with 'underlying conditions' are at risk of having a severe illness and the 14 people who have died in the UK have been in at risk groups.

"Everybody needs to remember that this is an infectious disease so please observe good respiratory and hand hygiene, catch it, bin it, kill it."

NHS Direct can be contacted on 0845 46 47.