The Public Health Agency has confirmed that the current pattern of swine flu in Northern Ireland is no different to that in the rest of the UK.

The PHA is today publishing data on laboratory-confirmed influenza associated deaths due to the level of public interest in the current situation regarding flu. “It should be noted that these will not represent all influenza-related deaths,” said Dr Carolyn Harper, Director of Public Health. “A more reliable indicator of the impact of flu is the mortality data for respiratory infections. That is why we have published those each week in our flu bulletin. “The data shows that respiratory infections remain within the normal range that we would expect to see for this time of year.

Latest figures from the Public Health Agency show that flu cases have increased again this week but the level of increase is less than that seen in previous weeks. GP consultation rates for influenza like illness in primary care have increased by 45% compared with 104% in the previous week. The latest influenza indicators reported between 25–31 December 2010 are:

Adult smokers aged between 20-49 are the primary focus of a major new public health information campaign to be launched by the Public Health Agency (PHA) on Wednesday 5 January. The new campaign has been developed to motivate and encourage smokers to make a quit attempt by firstly focusing on why smokers should quit and secondly offering a range of options on how to quit.

The Public Health Agency has issued the following advice to schools, nurseries, playgroups, and child minders in relation to keeping healthy when mains water is unavailable or is low. How can we maintain hygiene in schools, nurseries, playgroups, and child minders in the event of an interruption to the water supply? • A school, nursery, playgroup, or child minder should not open in the absence of hot and cold running water.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) continues to advise the public to boil emergency water collected from standpipes and bowsers during the current water shortage. This is particularly important where water is used for direct consumption, for example drinking, brushing teeth, making up baby formula and ice cubes.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging the public to use their Health and Social Care services appropriately with the increase in winter illnesses and the current situation regarding interruption to water supplies.

Updated: 31 December 2010. 3.00pm.

2010 Bamford Implementation – Rapid Review Scheme