15 flu deaths reported in Wales in one week
Public health experts say GP consultations for people with flu-like symptoms remains 'normal'
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Fifteen flu-related deaths have been reported to the assembly government in the past week.
The total number of flu deaths in Wales since October now stands at 27.
Health officials said 49 people were having treatment in critical care beds in hospitals across Wales on Tuesday of this week.
There has also been an increase in the number of GP consultations for flu but the figure remained "within the levels of normal seasonal flu activity".
Aneurin Bevan Health Board, which covers the former Gwent trust area, reported the most number of critical care admissions, 12, closely followed by Betsi Cadwaladr health board in north Wales which saw 11 admissions.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg and Cardiff and Vale health boards both saw nine admissions.
Provisional figures from Public Health Wales showed the number of people going to their GP complaining of flu-like symptoms rose to 93 consultations per 100,000 compared to 85 consultations at 5 January.
However, health officials said the reduction in GP consulting hours during the New Year Bank Holiday may have affected last week's clinical consultation rate.
The age group with the highest consultation rate was the 25-34 year age group at 147 consultations per 100,000.
Sixty-two people died with flu in the UK in the past week, bringing the total to 112 since October, according to the latest figures.
'Vaccine'
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the rise could be due to delayed reporting, with many of the deaths occurring before Christmas.
Most of those who died had swine flu. The majority were aged between 15 and 64, but nine children under 14 died.
Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell said: "Despite the slight increase in the clinical consultation rate for influenza this week compared to the previous week, the rate of consultations for flu-like illness in Wales still remains within the levels of normal seasonal flu activity.
"Most healthy people will recover from flu-like illnesses within five to seven days with plenty of rest and drinking non-alcoholic fluids."
He added: "On the issue of vaccination against seasonal flu, whilst we have been working to make stocks of the vaccine that was developed against swine flu available to be used where supplies of seasonal flu vaccine have run low, we are now well into the flu season."
Over the course of the last week, fifteen people who have suffered from influenza have died in Wales, as reported to the . The total amount of flu-related deaths in Wales since October 2010 has now increased to 27.


On Tuesday, 49 people were being treated in critical care beds in hospitals around Wales, according to health officials. With twelve reported admissions,  had the highest amount of critical care patients in Wales.  has the second highest total number of patients experiencing this critical care in the country, with eleven being cared for.  and  have nine important care admissions each.  contains five of such patients, while  has three.

The age group of 25–34 years old had the largest amount of meetings with ; the rate of consultation was 147 people for every 100,000. For all age groups, 93 people out of every one hundred thousand have been consulting with a GP; on January 5, the total figure stood at 85 meetings per 100,000.

"Despite the slight increase in the clinical consultation rate for influenza this week compared to the previous week, the rate of consultations for flu-like illness in Wales still remains within the levels of normal seasonal flu activity," said , the Chief Medical Officer of Wales. "Most healthy people will recover from flu-like illnesses within five to seven days with plenty of rest and drinking non-alcoholic fluids. On the issue of vaccination against seasonal flu, whilst we have been working to make stocks of the vaccine that was developed against swine flu available to be used where supplies of seasonal flu vaccine have run low, we are now well into the flu season."

According to , 13 patients experiencing flu-related symptoms were getting treatment at  in  on Tuesday. Meanwhile, five were receiving hospital treatment at  in . Also,  in  and West Wales General Hospital in  both had a solitary patient.

Jowell also commented: "People in at-risk groups are at a higher risk of complications from seasonal flu, and the best protection is early vaccination. A press and publicity campaign has been running since October and has included television, radio and bus adverts to let people know if they are in an at-risk group, and that the vaccine is available free of charge to those groups from GPs. We have also encouraged health boards and GPs to ensure that their patients and front line NHS staff are vaccinated against seasonal flu."

Throughout the United Kingdom, 62 individuals reportedly died in the last week, as the result of suffering from influenza. The majority of these victims were suffering from swine flu. In most of these cases, the sufferers were aged between 15 and 64. However, nine of the fatalities were of children aged below fourteen.