To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people resident in Shropshire have been diagnosed with swine influenza in each of the last 12 months. (325410)

Data on the precise number of swine flu cases in a particular area are not available.

However, the Department does have data on the number of antivirals dispensed through the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS). Shropshire is covered by two primary care trusts (PCTs), Shropshire county PCT and Telford and Wrekin PCT. Figures for these PCTs show that between 23 July 2009 and 11 February 2010:

7,747 residents in Shropshire County PCT were authorised antivirals; and

6,619 residents in Telford and Wrekin PCT were authorised antivirals.

These figures only refer to antiviral authorisations through the NPFS since its launch on 23 July 2009 and do not include any that may have been authorised via other routes such as general practitioners.

Antivirals distributed prior to this time were distributed through normal primary care routes and by the Health Protection Agency; the data are still being collated.