As the Chairman of Birmingham’s Health Scrutiny Committee, I receive regular updates from the three Birmingham PCTs and from Emergency Planning on the Swine Flu situation in the city. At close of play on Monday, the number of confirmed Swine Flu cases in the West Midlands stood at 1,095 with the majority of those in Birmingham. The UK total at that time was 2,773. So far it appears to be a mild flu and most people recover quickly at home.
Within the constituency, Lordswood Boys School in Harborne was closed on Wednesday June 17th but was due to reopen today. Another school in Harborne Ward, George Dixon International, was closed yesterday and is due to reopen on Tuesday June 30th.
The advice to the public is to stay away from their GP and to avoid using the A & E departments of local hospitals. Instead, people should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 if they believe they have the virus.
For advice on how to help prevent the spread of the virus, visit http://www.nhs.uk or refer to the leaflet (pictured) which was delivered to every household a few weeks ago.
