By Jack Bremer
Health authorities are anxiously awaiting the results of tests for swine fever virus in 23 people in Scotland. The results should give them a better picture of how the flu virus is spreading. Fourteen of those being tested are people who have been on holiday in Mexico or the United States and have reported flu-like symptoms; another nine are people who have been in contact with the Falkirk couple, Iain and Dawn Askham, who are already confirmed as Britain's first known cases.
The Askhams, who contracted swine fever while honeymooning in Cancun, Mexico, are continuing to recover in Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire. If any of the nine friends they saw before they were isolated have contracted the virus, it will the first known case of the fever spreading within Britain.
In the meantime, the Department of Health in London is to start delivering leaflets to every UK household about what precautions to take against the swine fever virus. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that a massive stockpile of Tamiflu, put in place because of the bird flu scare, means Britain is among the world's best prepared countries to deal with a serious outbreak of the new flu strain.
Worldwide, Mexico has raised its estimate of the number of suspected deaths to 159. There have still been no deaths outside Mexico, but the number of confirmed cases elsewhere is rising. In the United States, 64 cases are now confirmed. There are also confirmed cases in Canada, New Zealand, Israel and Spain.
Across Britain, unconfirmed cases are being investigated in Wales, Wiltshire and Derbyshire. Anyone who believes they may have swine flu is asked not to visit their GP's surgery, but to telephone for advice.
(C) First Post Newsgroup IPR Limited
April 29, 2009
UK: All UK homes to receive swine fever leaflets
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LONDON, England / The First Post / News / April 29, 2009
Results of tests on 23 Scottish patients should give a better picture of how the virus is spreading
By Jack Bremer
Health authorities are anxiously awaiting the results of tests for swine fever virus in 23 people in Scotland. The results should give them a better picture of how the flu virus is spreading. Fourteen of those being tested are people who have been on holiday in Mexico or the United States and have reported flu-like symptoms; another nine are people who have been in contact with the Falkirk couple, Iain and Dawn Askham, who are already confirmed as Britain's first known cases.
The Askhams, who contracted swine fever while honeymooning in Cancun, Mexico, are continuing to recover in Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire. If any of the nine friends they saw before they were isolated have contracted the virus, it will the first known case of the fever spreading within Britain.
In the meantime, the Department of Health in London is to start delivering leaflets to every UK household about what precautions to take against the swine fever virus. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that a massive stockpile of Tamiflu, put in place because of the bird flu scare, means Britain is among the world's best prepared countries to deal with a serious outbreak of the new flu strain.
Worldwide, Mexico has raised its estimate of the number of suspected deaths to 159. There have still been no deaths outside Mexico, but the number of confirmed cases elsewhere is rising. In the United States, 64 cases are now confirmed. There are also confirmed cases in Canada, New Zealand, Israel and Spain.
Across Britain, unconfirmed cases are being investigated in Wales, Wiltshire and Derbyshire. Anyone who believes they may have swine flu is asked not to visit their GP's surgery, but to telephone for advice.
(C) First Post Newsgroup IPR Limited
By Jack Bremer
Health authorities are anxiously awaiting the results of tests for swine fever virus in 23 people in Scotland. The results should give them a better picture of how the flu virus is spreading. Fourteen of those being tested are people who have been on holiday in Mexico or the United States and have reported flu-like symptoms; another nine are people who have been in contact with the Falkirk couple, Iain and Dawn Askham, who are already confirmed as Britain's first known cases.
The Askhams, who contracted swine fever while honeymooning in Cancun, Mexico, are continuing to recover in Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire. If any of the nine friends they saw before they were isolated have contracted the virus, it will the first known case of the fever spreading within Britain.
In the meantime, the Department of Health in London is to start delivering leaflets to every UK household about what precautions to take against the swine fever virus. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that a massive stockpile of Tamiflu, put in place because of the bird flu scare, means Britain is among the world's best prepared countries to deal with a serious outbreak of the new flu strain.
Worldwide, Mexico has raised its estimate of the number of suspected deaths to 159. There have still been no deaths outside Mexico, but the number of confirmed cases elsewhere is rising. In the United States, 64 cases are now confirmed. There are also confirmed cases in Canada, New Zealand, Israel and Spain.
Across Britain, unconfirmed cases are being investigated in Wales, Wiltshire and Derbyshire. Anyone who believes they may have swine flu is asked not to visit their GP's surgery, but to telephone for advice.
(C) First Post Newsgroup IPR Limited
