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New figures today reveal the extent of London's swine flu epidemic. Eight of the 10 worst-hit areas in the country are in the capital, with some areas seeing levels three times higher than epidemic ratings.
Tower Hamlets has the highest level of the virus in the country, with 1,360 coming down with flu-like symptoms last week — a rate of 758 in every 100,000.
Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson described the situation in Tower Hamlets as “extraordinary”. City and Hackney, Islington and Newham are all in the top five worst-hit Primary Care Trusts in the country.
Meanwhile Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond and Havering have some of the lowest rates in London.
Click on the image below London's worst hit areas
Sir Liam confirmed that the situation was showing no signs of slowing down, adding: “In a growing number of hotspots the activity is absolutely intense. We don't think it is tailing off in London. That is not the impression we are getting.”
A spokeswoman for NHS London said: “It is quite normal at this stage of an epidemic to see differences across geographical areas and we would expect this to even out over time.
“All PCTs across London have been preparing for some time for a flu pandemic and have procedures in place to ensure that patients are given the necessary treatment.”
Health experts at NHS Tower Hamlets are reporting daily to the Government on how doctors are coping with the outbreak. A spokesman said the numbers have now stabilised at around 400 people a day being diagnosed with swine flu.
He added: “Across the country swine flu is currently affecting younger people at a higher rate than adults. As Tower Hamlets has a young population and relatively high population densities, it is to be expected that we would have higher rates of flu-like illness.
“Doctors, nurses and receptionists are working very hard to meet this demand. We have opened an anti-viral collection point and we are ensuring that people who need to take anti-virals such as Tamiflu are quickly able to access them seven days a week.
“NHS Tower Hamlets reviews the situation on a daily basis, and we have put in place extra support to GP practices who need this.
“We have detailed plans developed by local agencies to ensure that we can cope with further increases, and we are reporting pressures on the NHS in Tower Hamlets on a daily basis to NHS London and the Department of Health.”
Reader views (5)
The reason why Tower Hamlets is worst hit is simply jus look at the location, its an inner london borough, if not inner than the most inner london borough directly linked to the city with places like LIVERPOOL ST being literally attached to Tower Hamlets hence alot of city people travelling in and out through the borough from all over the uk let alone being bad enough that city workers tend to travel for business purposes alot, so causing a higher risk of catching the virus. even got places like canary wharf etc etc in the borough where people all over the uk come to work and again having more more city workers.
- Daniel Khan, Tower Hamlets
High immirgration area..springs to mind
- Aj, Tower Hamlets
Notice how the no. of cases seems to differ dependent on affluence? Compare Richmond and Kensington & Chelsea to Tower Hamlets and Lewisham.
- Chris, London
Simply because Newham refused to shut any schools during the outbreak, and they are still open as term finishes in another week, children are spreading this virus like wildfire.
- A J, Newham London
As if the house prices falling on the new-build flats in this area wasn't bad enough...
- Arthur Pantry, Tower Hamlets
