CASES of swine flu are continuing to fall, according to NHS West Midlands.

The reported rate of GP consultations for people reporting flu or a flu like illness (per 100,000 population) within the region has dropped from 73.3 in the week ending August 2 to 45 in the week ending August 9.

This compares with an average for England and Wales of 48.

The total number of deaths from swine flu in the West Midlands is eight. The total number of new admissions of people with swine flu admitted to hospitals in the past seven days region is 83.

As of August 12 there were 40 inpatients with swine flu in West Midlands hospitals.

There are currently 67 anti-viral collection points open across the West Midlands which is sufficient to meet the level of demand at this present time.

To date over 40,000 people have collected anti-virals from one of these collection points in the region since they opened on July 23.

The National Flu Pandemic Service, that was recently launched to ensure that people with flu or flu like symptoms get the right advice and help, has to date, assessed over 86,000 people from across the region.