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Outbreaks of a deadly strain of flu have claimed the lives of elderly people in care homes across the country in recent weeks.
The flu is type A, the most dangerous form of the virus and the strain is H3N2. B and C types of flu generally give less cause for concern.
Health officials say the death rate in care homes is the highest they have seen for several years. In one care home in the south of England, earlier this month, six elderly people died in a matter of days.
"We have had problems in care homes for elderly people and we have seen a few outbreaks with quite high mortality rates since the beginning of December," said Professor Nick Phin of the Health Protection Agency. "We are more concerned about flu A because it can cause epidemics and pandemics. It also causes more serious illness."
"We have been getting outbreaks involving 20 to 30 people at a time. When this happens local health protection unit staff go into the homes and take swabs," added Professor Phin.
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The flu is type A, the most dangerous form of the virus and the strain is H3N2. B and C types of flu generally give less cause for concern.
Health officials say the death rate in care homes is the highest they have seen for several years. In one care home in the south of England, earlier this month, six elderly people died in a matter of days.
"We have had problems in care homes for elderly people and we have seen a few outbreaks with quite high mortality rates since the beginning of December," said Professor Nick Phin of the Health Protection Agency. "We are more concerned about flu A because it can cause epidemics and pandemics. It also causes more serious illness."
"We have been getting outbreaks involving 20 to 30 people at a time. When this happens local health protection unit staff go into the homes and take swabs," added Professor Phin.
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