MORE than 18,000 people have been diagnosed with suspected swine flu in East Lancashire since the early stages of the outbreak, it has been revealed.

The latest figures from NHS North West show that from July 23 to December 3 there were 18,471 people believed to have swine flu in the region.

Health experts predicted that around 75,000 people would catch swine flu in East Lancashire this year.

When quizzed on the subject back in July, Dr Ellis Freidman, one of East Lancashire's public health directors, said 15 per cent of the population would contract the virus at its winter peak.

However, in line with regional and national figures, the number of cases continues to fall.

NHS North West said it did not possess data on the first swine flu patients recorded by GPs before July.

Its figures, based on the number of people diagnosed by the National Pandemic Flu Service, show that there has been 5,654 cases in the area covered by NHS Blackburn with Darwen and 12,817 cases under NHS East Lancashire, covering Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale.

The number of anti-virals handed out to people is falling, with 170 given to people by NHS East Lancashire in the last week of November compared to 197 the week before.

And despite 67 hospital inpatients in the north west being treated for swine flu, 16 of whom were in critical condition, there were no confirmed cases at East Lancashire's hospitals as of yesterday.

The number of people who have died with swine flu has risen from 163 deaths in England to 178. The UK total now stands at 270.

Last week there were an estimated 22,000 new cases of swine flu in England, compared to 46,000 new cases the week before.

However, England's Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said it was too early to claim victory in the fight against the virus.