Level of flu cases creeps up in Lothians

Published on Friday 30 January 2009 09:00

THE number of flu cases in the Lothians has crept back up in the last week but numbers are still at a lower level than expected.

Statistics released by Health Protection Scotland reveal there were about 330 instances of people reporting to their GP with flu-like symptoms, slightly more than the week before, but down from a previous high of more than 500.

The NHS Lothian board region continues to escape the worst of the problems, with the Western Isles and Forth Valley recording more cases per head.

This is partly down to a large-scale immunisation campaign.

In the last three years NHS Lothian has improved the number of people it safeguards against influenza. Initial Scottish Government information shows 75 per cent of over 65s were inoculated this winter, compared to 70 per cent last year and 66 per cent the year before.

And at-risk groups – like asthmatics and diabetics – are more likely to get the jab in Lothian than most other health board regions, with almost half taking it up.