Extra Doctors Drafted in As Flu Virus Grips Thousands

from Belfast Telegraph ..

By BRENDAN Mc DAID

DOCTORS in the North West were today treating increasing numbers of flu victims.

GPs across the area haveregistered an increase in patients with flu symptoms over recent weeks.

Last week alone there were twice as many people affected by the virus as was registered for the same period last year. Extra GPs were drafted into Derry to support out-of-hours services over the holiday period.

Dr Tom Black, local secretary of the British Medical Association, said today said the new Brisbane H3M2 strain of the virus - so named because it is believed to have originated in the Australian city - was now impacting locally.

He said: "Every year we get a different influenza virus. This is the real severe flu, with symptoms including sore throat, severe muscle pains, sore back and arms and legs, people being hot and cold.

"Excellent work has been done in the vaccination programme, and the vaccination that was given this year included this particular virus."

In Dr Black's Abbey Medical practice alone, 1,200 of 7,000 patients have been vaccinated. Thousands more local people aged over 65, and those with asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, have also been vaccinated in other GP practices across Derry, Strabane and Limavady.

Dr Black said: "We have had the biggest number of flu patients since 1995. For the end of December it is double what it was last year.

"This is not unrelated to this being the coldest winter for 30 years over the last month. This is the biggest number we have seen over the last ten years."

Dr Black said that many healthy adults and younger people have been affected this year.

He added that local doctors were coping and "smiling our way through" the extra workload.

He also advised that anyone with the virus does not need antibiotics as these will have no effect.

He said: "People need fluids and should take paracetamol and keep themselves warm and contact their doctor if they feel it was settling on their chest."

Originally published by BRENDAN Mc DAID bmcdaid@belfasttelegraph.co.uk.

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