Swine Flu in Britain

(London, England) Authorities are fearing that an epidemic of swine flu victims is coming soon.

They say rates are rising faster than during December 1999, which marked the start of an outbreak which claimed more than 22,000 lives and brought the NHS to its knees.

There are now 460 people in intensive care, taking up around one in seven beds, up from 182 last week.[…]

Experts say the outbreak could reach epidemic proportions within the next few days. The latest infection rates show an average of 87.1 cases per 100,000 people – an epidemic is classified as more than 200 per 100,000.

But current rates are increasing much quicker than in December 1999, when there were just 60 per 100,000 over Christmas but more than 200 per 100,000 by New Year.

Doctors say flu often spreads very quickly during the festive period as those carrying the virus visit relatives in different parts of the country.

So far this winter nine children and 18 adults are confirmed to have died from the virus, although in reality this number is expected to be much higher.

However, Britain's Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies is not worried. She said the flu numbers are in the "normal range" for winter flu.

So, we've got predictions from both ends of the spectrum. The government says "Don't worry" while the medical experts are canceling elective surgeries and predicting thousands of deaths. Take your pick.