The NHS must remain "on top of its game" in the battle against swine flu, the chief medical officer says, despite the number of new cases falling.

英国国民健康保险总医务官称，尽管猪流感新感染病例正在下降，该部门仍然保持对猪流感的“最高警惕”。

The number of new cases of swine flu have fallen again in the past week

Department of Health figures show that in the past week there were 5,000 infections in England - compared to over 100,000 at the start of the month.

But Sir Liam Donaldson said while it was mostly a mild illness, it was still having serious complications¹ for some.

The death toll² has now reached 66 - up seven from last week.

Sir Liam said the NHS and wider public must not be lulled³（暂停，间歇） into thinking the worst had passed.

He said despite the fall in the number of new infections, the levels of flu being seen was still unusual for the summer months.

"The health service needs to be on top of its game.

"It is normally⁴ a mild illness, but for some it continues to be very serious.

"We don't know what will happen next, but our best guess is that we will get some kind of rise during our flu season."

Hospital

As well as the seven extra deaths - three of which were in England, two in Scotland⁵ and one each in Wales and Northern Ireland - there are still more than 200 people in hospital with swine flu.

However, the overall⁶ pressure on the health service has fallen again slightly - as it has done throughout August.

The number of people going to a GP with flu-like illness was 16.5 per 100,000 in England - half of what would be expected during a bad winter - compared to 21 last week.

Similar rates were also seen in Scotland and Wales, although for Northern Ireland they remain a little higher.

However, each part of the UK has seen a fall since the peak at the end of July and beginning of August.

Demand for the National Flu Service, the web and phone service which is operational⁷ in England, has also fallen.