SWINE flu admissions to hospitals in the Western Trust area have dropped substantially over recent weeks.
Speaking at Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Londonderry on Friday health chiefs said new hospitalised cases of the virus were down from 85 on October 30 to just 24 on November 13.
But although there has been a reduction in the number of people admitte
d to hospital as a result of swine flu across the Western Trust, the local population is being urged to remain vigilant and to get the swine flu vaccine.
Dr Gerard Daly, consultant respiratory physician and Western Trust clinical swine flu lead, said the swine flu vaccine is the most effective way for people to be protected against swine flu.
Dr Daly said: "As with the rest of Northern Ireland, the Western Trust has seen a decreasing number of people requiring hospital admission as a result of swine flu and this is a welcome development.
"However, we would urge people not to be complacent and the best way to reduce the risk of getting swine flu and to sustain this downturn in the number of people requiring hospital admission is for people to get the vaccine."
A total of 154 people had to be admitted to Altnagelvin and Erne hospitals as a result of swine flu since the beginning of the pandemic.
Almost half (68) of the hospital cases were in the under five year old age group. Five pregnant women were admitted across Altnagelvin and Erne Hospitals, who were confirmed as having swine flu.
Many pregnant women have been opting to take the swine flu vaccination as the best measure to protect them and their unborn babies from the effects of swine flu. A total of 1257 pregnant women have received the vaccine.
The Trust also has arrangements in place to offer vaccination to patients who are currently in hospital and who would be eligible for the vaccine if they were at home.
Dr Rodney Gamble, Western Trust Occupational Health Consultant managing the staff vaccination programme, said the Western Trust has seen a positive response to the swine flu vaccination programme.
Dr Gamble said: "The programme began for front line health care workers on October 21 and was extended to all health and social care staff from November 16.
"A total of 4,171 health and social care staff to date (November 19) have been vaccinated in the Western Trust.
"The staff clinics will continue their vaccination programme until November 27 at three locations across the Trust in Londonderry, Omagh and Enniskillen.
"The uptake of the vaccination at the clinics has been very positive. We expect this uptake to continue so that health and social care staff can receive the vaccine in order to protect themselves, their families, their patients and their colleagues from swine flu."
Alan Corry Finn, Western Trust Director of Primary Care and Older People's Services and Director of Nursing, advised people to stay at home if they think they have flu and not visit their GP, hospital or pharmacy themselves.
Mr Corry-Finn said: "People who are normally healthy should be able to recover at home with the usual flu remedies.
"If symptoms do not improve you are advised to contact your GP or out of hours service.
"However, people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and parents with children under five who think their child may have swine flu should contact their GP or out of hours service and seek urgent advice."
As well as accepting the vaccine when it is offered, one of the most important actions people can take to minimise the spread of swine flu is to wash their hands and use a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes. Hands should be washed after disposing of tissues.
Further information on swine flu can be obtained by calling the Northern Ireland swine flu helpline: 0800 0 514 142 (Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm); textphone 18001 0800 0514 142. The UK swine flu helpline is 0800 1 513 513. Further information is also available on: 'www.nidirect.gov.uk.'
