WITHIN 24 hours of the swine flu vaccine arriving in the region, officials have revealed a big increase in cases in the past week.

The number of people given anti-viral drugs in the North- East in the past week rose from 5,948 to 7,433.

There was also a rise in the number of people in hospital as a result of swine flu, from 31 to 36.

The figures, which show a 25 per cent increase in swine flu cases, were released a day after the first NHS staff in the region were immunised with the new vaccine.

Supplies of the vaccine are due to arrive at hospitals across the region over the next few days, with mass immunisation of thousands of doctors and nurses expected to begin next week.

Members of the public in vulnerable groups will be contacted by their GPs in the next few weeks and offered the vaccine.

Patients offered the vaccine will also be urged to have the seasonal flu jab as well.

Those most at risk include pregnant women and people who have chronic breathing problems, heart disease, liver disease or other longterm conditions, such as diabetes.

The NHS said prevention was the “first line of defence”.

The latest swine flu figures for North Yorkshire will be released today.

The estimated number of new cases of swine flu nationally almost doubled this week to 53,000, raising fears that increasing hospital admissions will put pressure on NHS beds.

The number of deaths of people in the UK suffering from swine flu has risen to 128, with 93 deaths in England, 21 in Scotland, eight in Northern Ireland and six in Wales.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said he was concerned by the high proportion of deaths in younger age groups.

Fifty-four per cent of deaths have been in the under-45 age group, while 77 per cent have been in the under-65 group.

One in three deaths related to people who had little or no underlying health problems.