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Swine flu cases rise as autumn progresses
HEALTH chiefs' prediction that swine flu would increase in the autumn has proved correct – with the number of positive reported cases rising in the city.
HEALTH chiefs' prediction that swine flu would increase in the autumn has proved correct – with the number of positive reported cases rising in the city.This week's figures reveal Peterborough is following the national trend with 16 more cases confirmed this week.
The swine flu figures released for the week-ending October 2 show NHS Peterborough had recorded 197 potential swine flu sufferers in its area and 172 antivirals were collected.
This compares to 147 potential swine flu sufferers recorded and 156 people who picked up their prescriptions the previous week.
Across Cambridgeshire the picture is the same with 521 cases reported, a rise of 89.
At the beginning of September health chiefs had revealed ambitious plans to inoculate 40,000 people, nearly a quarter of the city's population, in a three-week period from mid-October.
The plans also included the creation of a "mass vaccination centre" in Peterborough by mid-October. The intensive care bed capacity will be tripled, from six to 18 beds at Peterborough District Hospital, to cope with the number of people expected to be hit by a second, more severe, outbreak of the disease this autumn.
But as plans to inoculate groups most at risk faced delays, health bosses now intend to run their vaccinations alongside the normal flu jabs.
A spokeswoman for NHS Peterborough said: "Following national guidance two groups will be vaccinated initially.
"These are the frontline health and social care staff, people in the usual at-risk groups for seasonal flu, including those aged 65 and over or with medical conditions as well as pregnant women, who are more at risk of developing complications from swine flu."
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Weather for Peterborough
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
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