29/04/2009

Three More Swine Flu Cases Confirmed In The UK

Three more cases of swine flu have been confirmed today in Britain, taking the number of those treated for the disease to five.

A 12-year-old girl is among those who have contracted the virus after visiting Mexico, Prime Minister Gordon Brown confirmed.

Two adults - one from Redditch, Worcs and one from London - are also being treated, along with two other cases, previously confirmed, in Scotland.

The schoolgirl attends Paignton Community and Sports College, in Paignton, Devon, which has been shut for a week. All pupils in her year have also been given anti-viral drugs as a precaution.

The announcement came as American health officials announced a 23-month-old child died of swine flu in Texas - the first fatality outside Mexico from the H1N1 strain.

Mr Brown told the Commons all three British cases had recently travelled to Mexico, had mild symptoms and were responding well to treatment.

"I believe we are taking the preparations that are necessary and the precautions to prevent further incidents of the disease in this country," the PM said.

"I can confirm that we have enhanced airport checks and that we are advising people not to travel to Mexico unless necessary.

"We have decided to build up stocks of anti-viral drugs and we are ordering a great deal more face masks (for health staff) and we'll be sending out public information to all citizens of the country."

According to reports, tests on seven people who came into contact with Mexico honeymooners Dawn and Iain Askham, have come back negative.

Today, the UK Government is preparing a wide-scale information campaign which will see leaflets with information regarding swine flu, to every home in the UK. This follows the World Health Organisation's (WHO) calls to prepare Britain for a pandemic.

See: Mexico Confirms Just Seven Deaths From Swine Flu

(JM/BMcC)

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