HEALTH experts are urging people to take swine flu seriously.

As the number of people catching swine flu has fallen slightly across the North West, the latest health advice is for people to remain on the look out for the virus.

With 139 being treated in hospitals across the region and 33 in critical care, Dr Ruth Hussey, North West Director for Public Health said: “Our biggest concern is that although for the majority of people swine flu is a mild to moderate illness, for some the illness is very severe.”

Since the launch of the National Pandemic Flu Service at the end of July, 190,605 people in the North West have been diagnosed as having swine flu and 131,714 people have collected anti-viral medication.

The number diagnosed on Thursday (oct 28) was 2,147 compared to 2,376 on October 21; and 1,521 people collected anti-viral medication compared to 1,783 on October 21.

Latest figures also show that 14 people have died as a result of swine flu in the North West since the outbreak of the swine flu virus in April.