Children worst hit as flu rate soars by a third in the West Midlands

Dec 31 2010 by Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

NUMBERS of people struck with flu in the West Midlands have soared by a third over the past seven days, public health chiefs revealed.

Children are said to be the worst affected, and more will be at risk of the H1N1 swine flu strain and Influenza B when they return to school next week.

West Midland flu rates surged from 57 people in every 100,000 to 76 people per 100,000 – which equates to roughly 4,000 people in the region with flu.

That is a rise of 32 per cent, from December 19 to December 26, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Three quarters of these cases were swine flu, which, experts say is most likely to affect the young.

Across the UK, 39 people have died from flu including 36 from swine flu, since October.

And in the last week there have been 12 deaths, including four children aged under five.