With 18,000 new cases of Swine Flu reported this week, the pandemic enters second wave as winter getting closer

The number of cases of swine flu in England has steadily increased over the past week with 18,000 confirmed cases this week.

A total of 290 people are in hospital because of the virus, with 47 in critical care. This is the highest number of patients in critical care for two months.

The CMO for England Sir Liam Donaldson said that the expected delivery of the swine flu vaccines should happen in the next few weeks.

He added that the second wave was proving to be a 'slow burn' which was helping to buy time for the vaccination programme to get under way.