Swine Flu information service to be shut down (From Bucks Free Press)

Swine Flu information service to be shut down

7:30am Monday 8th February 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(3)

HEALTH bosses will close the Swine Flu phone line and website on Thursday following a decrease in cases.

The National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS), set up to deal with the outbreak of swine flu, will be dropped on Thursday after the Department of Health (DoH) announced the disease was at its lowest level since the outbreak of the virus.

However, the DoH said there are still 124 patients quarantined in hospital with the illness, 29 of which are said to be in critical care.

Dr Karthik Paranthaman, acting consultant in public health at NHS Buckinghamshire, said: “As is the case across the country, we have seen a huge decline in the number of people requesting antiviral medication via the NPFS.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and made appropriate arrangements for this transition.”

Anyone with suspected swine flu should contact NHS Direct or their GP for advice. Antiviral drugs will still be available through GPs for those with flu-like symptoms.

Visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or dial 0845 4647.