THE number of people with suspected swine flu in East Anglia has continued to fall, new figures have shown today.Patients in the region who received a unique reference number through the National Flu Pandemic Service - which enables those assessed with the virus to get Tamiflu - dropped to 4061 from 6,022 last week.

THE number of people with suspected swine flu in East Anglia has continued to fall, new figures have shown today.

Patients in the region who received a unique reference number through the National Flu Pandemic Service - which enables those assessed with the virus to get Tamiflu - dropped to 4061 from 6,022 last week.

The drop follows an expected pattern and backs up predictions from health experts that the first 'wave' of the pandemic is over and we have now hit a calmer period before the predicted second wave later in the year.

A spokesman from the regional health authority, NHS East of England, said: 'We had always anticipated a drop in rates at this stage, but we are continuing to plan and make preparations for a second wave in the autumn, when seasonal flu rates traditionally increase.

NHS East of England is working with health professionals across the region to make sure they are prepared for when an expected 15pc of the population contract the virus.

While health bosses know there will be a second wave it is unsure exactly when, with predictions it will strike between September - when schools and universities resume - and November this year.

They confirmed there is plenty of Tamiflu to go round and they are looking at about 600 to 700,000 people in the region getting the virus.

The National Pandemic Flu Service is available online at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu , on 0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200 (Textphone).