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http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2516578.0.Warning_of_surge_in_swine_flu_cases.php
The public has been warned to expect a surge in the numbers of new swine flu cases after the largest jump yet in the outbreak in Scotland.
The news that 111 further people had tested positive over 24 hours in laboratory analyses - bringing the total number of Scottish cases to 850 - came as it was announced a fresh surge of swine flu cases has left NHS Direct swamped with calls and parts of the UK unable to contain the virus.
On Monday and Tuesday this week, NHS Direct received more than 6500 calls from people worried they had swine flu.
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Callers are currently hearing a recorded message saying the service is only dealing with emergency cases.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon warned that while the healthcare task had been about containment as Scotland's cases were previously localised in the Dunoon area, Paisley and the south side of Glasgow - there has been further spread.
Ms Sturgeon said: "While the focus in the early stages of the outbreak has been primarily on containment we are now moving to a point where we are now seeing increased community transmissions. We're now looking ahead to a situation where local health boards will proceed on a flexible basis according to the situation in their specific areas."
In an interview, published in a nursing journal, she said that the majority with the virus have had mild effects similar to seasonal flu. But she added: "we have to be prepared for the prospect that the virus could mutate and return in a more virulent form."
Scotland was "still very much open for business and visitors are at no greater risk of contracting the virus here than anywhere else," she said.
UK Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson yesterday warned there could be "tens of thousands of cases" each week by the autumn because the virus is more likely to thrive in colder months.
Meanwhile, the advice from NHS Direct was to check swine flu symptoms online before calling.
A spokeswoman warned that people with non-urgent calls faced a longer wait before being dealt with.
Maintaining a recent trend, Greater Glasgow and Clyde was home to the most significant increase in cases over the latest 24 hour period, this time 92. Lanarkshire confirmed 14; Lothian, two; Borders, one; Fife, one; and Tayside, one.
Of the latest cases, just three were linked with travel.
Yesterday also saw four new school closures - Cumbernauld Primary and St Helen's Primary, also in Cumbernauld, St Charles' Primary in Cambuslang and Crawforddyke Primary and Nursery in Carluke. There are currently four people in hospital with swine flu.
The public has been warned to expect a surge in the numbers of new swine flu cases after the largest jump yet in the outbreak in Scotland.
The news that 111 further people had tested positive over 24 hours in laboratory analyses - bringing the total number of Scottish cases to 850 - came as it was announced a fresh surge of swine flu cases has left NHS Direct swamped with calls and parts of the UK unable to contain the virus.
On Monday and Tuesday this week, NHS Direct received more than 6500 calls from people worried they had swine flu.
advertisement
Callers are currently hearing a recorded message saying the service is only dealing with emergency cases.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon warned that while the healthcare task had been about containment as Scotland's cases were previously localised in the Dunoon area, Paisley and the south side of Glasgow - there has been further spread.
Ms Sturgeon said: "While the focus in the early stages of the outbreak has been primarily on containment we are now moving to a point where we are now seeing increased community transmissions. We're now looking ahead to a situation where local health boards will proceed on a flexible basis according to the situation in their specific areas."
In an interview, published in a nursing journal, she said that the majority with the virus have had mild effects similar to seasonal flu. But she added: "we have to be prepared for the prospect that the virus could mutate and return in a more virulent form."
Scotland was "still very much open for business and visitors are at no greater risk of contracting the virus here than anywhere else," she said.
UK Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson yesterday warned there could be "tens of thousands of cases" each week by the autumn because the virus is more likely to thrive in colder months.
Meanwhile, the advice from NHS Direct was to check swine flu symptoms online before calling.
A spokeswoman warned that people with non-urgent calls faced a longer wait before being dealt with.
Maintaining a recent trend, Greater Glasgow and Clyde was home to the most significant increase in cases over the latest 24 hour period, this time 92. Lanarkshire confirmed 14; Lothian, two; Borders, one; Fife, one; and Tayside, one.
Of the latest cases, just three were linked with travel.
Yesterday also saw four new school closures - Cumbernauld Primary and St Helen's Primary, also in Cumbernauld, St Charles' Primary in Cambuslang and Crawforddyke Primary and Nursery in Carluke. There are currently four people in hospital with swine flu.
