The Public Health Agency (PHA) can confirm that a child with confirmed flu infection, who attended a school for children with special needs, has sadly passed away. The PHA would like to extend its deepest sympathy to the family of this child. This death is a reminder that flu infection can cause serious complications, and indeed death, in those with certain underlying medical conditions.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world claiming more than 33,500 lives every year in the UK and in 2008 accounted for 12.5% of all cancers diagnosed in Northern Ireland.¹

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has confirmed that a case of influenza has been reported in a pupil attending Ceara School, Lurgan. The Ceara School is a special school for children with severe learning disability. Information letters have been issued to parents of other children at the school highlighting the importance of flu vaccination and encouraging them to get their children vaccinated. Local GPs have also been informed. No other associated cases have been identified.

A month-long programme of events will put the factors that influence individual and community health under a magnifying glass. ‘Focus on health inequalities’ is being led by the Public Health Agency (PHA), with contributions from a wide range of partners in the community, voluntary and statutory sector. It runs from 27 October 2010 and the concluding event is a major PHA conference ‘Meeting the challenge: Economics and a healthier society’, 24 November in Newtownabbey.Commenting on the ‘Focus on health inequalities’ programme Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive, PHA says

Issued on behalf of the Colin Health for All Suicide Prevention Task GroupA special meeting of the Colin Health for All – Suicide Prevention Task Group took place on Thursday (21 October) to respond to community concerns about the number of recent suicides in the area.At the meeting representatives from a wide range of community, statutory, voluntary partners and local groups took part in the first steps in putting together a community response plan, to address the issues relating to recent tragic events and loss of life.

The HSC Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency wishes to draw your attention to the attached call for the Bamford Implementation Rapid Review Scheme. (Document attached below). The closing date for applications is 18 November 2010 at 4.00pm.

As the new school year gets well underway, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine which reduces the risk of cervical cancer is again being routinely offered to girls aged 12-13 years (Year 9) in schools across Northern Ireland. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is asking all parents to consent to their daughters receiving the HPV vaccine which protects against two strains of the virus, types 16 and 18 that cause around 70% of cervical cancer cases.