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Haringey Briefing on Swine Flu

Sent on behalf of Cllr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities, and Eugenia Cronin, Joint Director of Public Health

To: Members of Parliament, Councillors, Head Teachers, community and voluntary organisations, faith groups, residents associations and business associations

In the past week, the number of swine flu cases in Haringey has increased significantly, and the advice from the Health Protection Agency is that we have "sustained community transmission".  This means that swine flu is spreading from person to person in Haringey, and we are advised by the HPA that containment will be very limited in what it can achieve.  There are over 30 laboratory confirmed cases in the borough, but the real number of cases is believed to be higher.

There have been swine flu cases in a number of schools in Haringey, mostly amongst primary school children.  In most schools there have only been a small number of confirmed cases, but in a smaller number there have larger numbers of absences due to reported flu-like illness.  There is also evidence that some parents and teachers have become ill.  

The vast majority of cases are presenting as a relatively mild illness, and people are making a full recovery.

Campsbourne School was closed from Thursday 18th June to Wednesday 24th June, but has now reopened.  St Paul's and All Hallows School was closed 22nd June, and is due to reopen on  Monday 29th June.  These closures were made on public health grounds as part of the containment strategy.  Due to the number of cases of flu in London it is now judged by the Health Protection Agency that there would be very limited benefits in school closures, which would be outweighed by the wider harm to children's education and welfare and disruption to the life of communities.  Therefore, without compelling operational reasons, it is not expected that further school closures will be recommended.

Demands on GPs and on community pharmacies are increasing due to the outbreak.  Members of the public who think they or a family member may be ill with the infection are being urged not to attend GP surgeries or Accident and Emergency departments but to telephone their surgery or NHS Direct on 0845 4647. They can also use the symptom checker online at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. Contingency plans to cope with increased demand and to relieve pressure on local health services are being readied for implementation next week, and this will be accompanied by appropriate communications to the public.

If there are any other organisations or individuals who should be getting this briefing, please let us know.  Further briefings will be provided on a regular basis.

For further information and guidance please contact: emergencyplanning@haringey.gov.uk   or telephone 0208 489 3334

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