Almost 40 cases of swine flu have been reported in the West Midlands in the space of a week, it has emerged.

New figures released today show that during the last week of November laboratory tests confirmed 37 cases in the region.

It has also been revealed that a case of swine flu in a male patient was confirmed this week at The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust which runs New Cross Hospital in the city. Two further suspected cases are also under investigation at the trust.

Health chiefs say the swine flu virus will be one of the most common types of flu this winter and as a result it is one of three strains protected against by the flu jab.

However take-up numbers for the vaccination are also lower than expected prompting the launch of a campaign to encourage those eligible to get the vaccine.

Dr Jeremy Hawker, regional epidemiologist for the Health Protection Agency, said: “Over the last few weeks we have seen a rise in the number of cases of seasonal flu, including both H1N1  swine flu and another strain, flu B, in the community. We have also received reports of patients with serious illness requiring hospitalisation and outbreaks of flu in schools.

“For most people, flu is not life threatening and usually lasts seven to 10 days. But it can be far more dangerous for those in at-risk groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women and patients with heart problems, diabetes or lung, liver or renal diseases, or those who have weak immune systems who are at risk of developing complications.

“Flu can be a serious illness and the vaccine offers good protection against it as it’s safe and it cannot make someone ill or give them a mild dose of flu because it doesn’t contain live virus.”

For the first time mothers-to-be are included in the group of people considered to be at risk and are eligible for the free jab along with those over 65, care homes residents, carers, healthcare workers and those with chronic illnesses or who are at higher than normal risk of infection.

Health bosses at NHS Dudley say swine flu is not routinely being tested for this year but cases of influenza-like illnesses are above average prompting officials to write to GPs asking them to ensure patients in the at-risk category get the vaccine.