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United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 7447 cases confirmed - new victim every 2 minutes

FrenchieGirl

Senior Moderator
UK swine flu infections reach 112


Three new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in England, taking the UK total to 112, health officials say.

The latest cases were all children from the same Worcestershire family who had recently been to the US.

Meanwhile three members of one family in Scotland have become probable H1N1 cases, after holidaying in Florida.

Globally more than 11,000 people have been diagnosed in 41 countries, the World Health Organisation has reported. There have been 85 deaths.

'Recovering well'

Dr Richard Harling, Director of Public Health for Worcestershire, said: "The HPA (Health Protection Agency) has confirmed three cases of swine flu in three children from a family in Worcestershire.

"The children contracted swine flu following a visit to the United States and were treated on their return as soon as they showed symptoms. They are all recovering well at home.

"They have not attended school or nursery whilst unwell and there is therefore no risk to other children. Close contacts within the family have been treated as a precaution."

A Department of Health spokesman said the UK's cases remained mild, and the spread was being contained well with anti-viral drugs.

A statement added: "We must not be complacent - it is right to prepare for the possibility of a global pandemic.

"The UK's arrangements are continuing to ensure that we are well-placed to deal with this new infection."

Fellow passengers

In Scotland, a mother, father and daughter were identified as possible cases after returning from Florida, said Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

Efforts were being made to trace passengers sitting near them on the homeward flight, when the family were showing flu symptoms.

The couple and their 10-year-old daughter, from the Forth Valley area, are being treated and monitored at home and are all showing mild symptoms.

Close contacts of the family are being traced, but the child has not been back to school since returning home.

Confirmed results will not be known until Friday at the earliest.
 
Re: UK, now 112

Re: UK, now 112

There are no visible signs in the Orlando area that there is any flu epidemic in the area. Life goes on as "normal" while a pandemic is going on.


:(
 
Uk - 122

Uk - 122

Two more Britons have swine flu

Antiviral drugs are being used to reduce symptoms and prevent spread
Two adults in England have been diagnosed with swine flu, taking the total number of cases in the UK to 122.

The Health Protection Agency said one is from London and the other from the east, adding that the source of infection was still being investigated.
Of all the UK cases, more than half (66) are in the London area. The east of England has seen 12 cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described swine flu as a "sneaky virus" which was likely to keep spreading.

"This is a subtle, sneaky virus. It does not announce its presence or arrival in a new country with a sudden explosion of patients seeking medical care or requiring hospitalisation," said Margaret Chan, head of the WHO, on Friday.
"We expect it to continue to spread to new countries and continue to spread within countries already affected."

On Friday, eight new cases of swine flu in the UK were confirmed - two adults from London, two adults from south-east England, a child from the West Midlands and three members of the same family from Scotland.
 
Re: Uk - 122

Re: Uk - 122

[Comment: This report illustrates what a mess it is to sort out who has or hasn't H1N1 flu, what to do or not to do, collaborate or not with other entities, lack of communication, misinformation, denial and ignorance at all levels. This is sad, very sad. :(]

Greenwich schools confirm 1st swine flu case

By Lisa Chamoff
Staff Writer
Updated: 05/23/2009 03:02:21 PM EDT

School officials Thursday confirmed the first known case of swine flu in a student in Greenwich Public Schools, a day after 130 middle school students were sent home from a field trip in northwest Connecticut when many became ill.

The student with swine flu, whose name was not released, is a Western Middle School sixth-grader who was sick last week and tested positive for the flu Friday. The test was then sent on to the state Department of Public Health, which confirmed Thursday it was the H1N1 strain of flu that has been linked to at least 10 U.S. deaths and has closed more than 20 schools in New York City.

The student, who had a mild case, was treated with antiviral drugs over the weekend, and then went on the five-day trip Monday to Nature's Classroom in Colebrook. The district was not aware the child had been sick, Supt. of Schools Betty Sternberg said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

On Wednesday, parents of 19 children at Nature's Classroom who had fevers were told to bring them home. An additional 36 students complained of symptoms ranging from minor headaches to fever, and all students returned to Greenwich by bus Wednesday night.

District officials advised parents of sick children to have them seen by their doctor before returning to school. The district did not close any schools, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which discourages school closures unless "there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school."

Sternberg said 166 students were absent from Western Middle School Thursday, though officials said they didn't know how many students at other schools had been absent. Sternberg said the district couldn't determine which students were ill.

District spokeswoman Kim Eves said it was too early to tell whether the district administration would consider closing any school if a large number of students or staff did not show up today.

"At this point, we're taking this as it comes," Eves said.

The district knows of eight students who were tested for flu at Greenwich Hospital, and the tests came back negative, Sternberg said.

"Numerous people have been tested through the Emergency Department and pediatric offices," Dr. James Sabetta, director of infectious diseases at Greenwich Hospital, said in a statement. "We're assisting the caregivers in Greenwich, the school system and the local and state departments of health in trying to definitively diagnose the situation at the school. We have specimens going to the state to see if we have confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus."

Tom Mahoney, director of the Office for Special Services at the town health department, said the student who tested positive for swine flu may not have been the source of the illnesses in the other students.

"It could be a coincidence," Mahoney said. "It could be any number of things that they experienced. They could have relatives or other friends who are ill. They could have eaten something that made them uncomfortable."

Lynn DeChiara's 11-year-old son Dylan came home from Nature's Classroom with a fever. She took him to Greenwich Hospital Thursday, where he tested negative for the flu.

Many parents expressed frustration at the district's response to the outbreak, saying they should have closed the school. They criticized communication, saying parents of fifth-graders at Glenville School, who share a wing with Western sixth-graders while Glenville is under construction, were not told about the illnesses and only learned about them from media reports.
Eves said the district acted as swiftly as possible, given the time frame in which it was able to confirm the news of the Western students' illnesses Wednesday afternoon.

"In terms of when we were able to confirm the facts Wednesday, we had to rush and prioritize which parents to get the information to," said Eves. "There wasn't any way to get hard information out to [the rest of the] parents."
Celia Fernandez drove up to Colebrook Wednesday to pick up her son Carlos, who had a headache and a low-grade fever. She said she was happy with the response to the situation.

Staff Writer Colin Gustafson contributed to this report.
 
Re: UK, now 112

Re: UK, now 112

There are no visible signs in the Orlando area that there is any flu epidemic in the area. Life goes on as "normal" while a pandemic is going on.


:(

The rain may never fall till after sundown.
By eight, the morning fog must disappear.
In short, there's simply not
A more congenial spot
For happily-ever-aftering than here
In Camelot.
- Camelot
 
Re: Uk - 122

Re: Uk - 122

Now we all knowing for this, could evaluate the impact on our health and lives have few folks at the UK//USACDC/... or more up.

When localy, the school bosses could not, or want, make autonomous decisions.

The health of milions, in the hands of few high ranked health decision makers ...

And this in USA-UK, what would be elsewhere ...

It could be seen an lesionation of the right of not be unwillingly exposed to infectious illnessess known to be present in an group of people.

Maybe a legal way could produce more preventive shielding at any level by automatism ...

If minor, the parents of a scholar which was under treatment and must be at home quarantine, could be charged for allowing him to participate, or for not alarming, a trip where he infected the others.
 
Uk - 133

Uk - 133

Eleven more in UK have swine flu

Antiviral drugs are being used to reduce symptoms and prevent spread
Eleven more people have been diagnosed with swine flu in England bringing the total number of UK cases to 133.

The Health Protection Agency said six adults and five children from the East Midlands, the West Midlands, south-east England and London had the virus.
Four of the cases were returning travellers and seven were linked to previously confirmed cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described swine flu as a "sneaky virus" which was likely to keep spreading.
The WHO has reported 12,022 cases of swine flu around the world, with 86 fatalities.

On Saturday, two adults from London and east England were also confirmed to have the virus.

_45817742_uk_outbreaks_regional_466.gif
 
Re: Uk - 133

Re: Uk - 133

Toddler confirmed with swine flu

A two-year-old boy has become the second case of swine flu to be confirmed in Oxford in two days.

The boy, who is receiving anti-viral drugs, is a "close household contact" of a 29-year-old woman confirmed as having the virus on Sunday.

She recently returned from a trip to the US, Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) said. Both the woman and the boy are making a good recovery.

The PCT added the boy did not attend any schools or playgroups.

The toddler is among four news cases of the H1N1 virus confirmed on Monday, in London, the South East and West Midlands regions.

The new cases bring the UK total of confirmed cases to 137.

The Department of Health said its policies seemed to have been effective in preventing the spread of the virus, but warned against complacency.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8067233.stm
 
Re: United Kingdom - 185 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - 185 cases confirmed

New case of swine flu confirmed


A fresh case of swine flu has been confirmed in England bringing the total in the UK to 185, health officials have said.

The new case is an adult from the East Midlands who recently returned from abroad, the Health Protection Agency said.

A total of 171 cases have now been confirmed in England, with 13 in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.

Another 155 possible cases are being investigated.

On Tuesday, 44 new cases were linked to Welford Primary School in Handsworth, Birmingham.

The school, which had already confirmed six cases, is currently closed for the half-term holidays and is undergoing a "deep clean" ahead of its reopening next week.

The HPA said all the confirmed cases in Birmingham are being treated at home with anti-viral drugs and are responding well to treatment.

About 50 countries have reported cases of the H1N1 virus, with almost 13,500 people around the world affected.

So far at least 95 people have died from the virus, in Mexico, the USA and Canada.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090527/tuk-new-case-of-swine-flu-confirmed-dba1618.html
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - now 203 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - now 203 cases confirmed

Swine flu latest: More cases at virus-hit school
Thursday, 28 May 2009 16:36

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/autocodes/countries/mexico/swine-flu-latest-more-cases-at-virus-hit-school-$1299297.htm

Thirteen children at a primary school in Birmingham are among 17 people diagnosed with swine flu today.

The Health Protection Agency said that one adult at Welford primary school had also been confirmed with the virus, as had two adults in London and another child.

One of the adults had recently retuned from Mexico, the HPA said, while the other's diagnosis is linked to a previous case.

With today's new cases, 203 people in the UK have been confirmed with the H1N1 virus. A further 144 cases are under laboratory review.

On Thursday the HPA also revealed that a strain of the virus suitable for vaccine manufacture had been produced and being made available to the pharmaceutical industry and other flu laboratories

Dr Stephen Inglis, director of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), said: "Our scientists have been working round the clock to develop a vaccine candidate since we received the first swine flu isolate from the USA at the beginning of May and I am delighted that they have been successful so quickly."
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 203 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 203 cases confirmed

Three new H1N1 cases in London area

Fri, May 29, 2009
None had travelled to Mexico

Three new cases of the new H1N1 flu virus have been identified in Middlesex-London, including an elementary school student.

The other two cases are a 66-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man.

None of the individuals have required hospitalization, according to the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

A release issued by the health unit said unlike an earlier case in the area, none of the three new cases had a travel history to Mexico.

As a result of the elementary school case, letters are being sent to parents and staff at Kensal Park and Woodland Heights Public Schools.

Parents are being asked to watch for symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, sore muscles, joint pain, weakness, fatigue, headache and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting.

If symptoms are detected, parents are advised to keep their children at home until they feel better.

Medical officer of health Graham Pollett said the new flu strain has behaved like seasonal flu in its symptoms and the way it is transmitted.

The Health Ministry is not recommending the school closures when there are cases.

To reduce the risk of spreading infections, the health unit is advising people to wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; avoid touching the face; cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow; stay at home if they feel sick; and frequently clean commonly touched surfaces such as keyboards, doorknobs and countertops.
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 211 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 211 cases confirmed

Swine flu case in Wales confirmed

The first UK cases of swine flu emerged a month ago

The first case of swine flu has been confirmed in Wales, according to health chiefs.

A 31-year-old man from the Caerphilly local authority area has had mild flu symptoms, and has been offered antivirals and is recovering at home.

Health officials say the infection is linked to his travel to the USA.

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales said it is likely further cases will continue to emerge. He urged people to be vigilant.

In Wales, 97 people have been under investigation for swine flu.

It has been ruled out in 89 cases, leaving seven still under investigation. All of these are displaying, or have displayed, mild symptoms.

There are now 230 confirmed cases in the UK - one case in Wales, 17 cases in Scotland, 211 cases in England and one in Northern Ireland.

The affected man's close family contacts are all well, and have also been offered antivirals, while other close contacts are also being traced.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Jewell, said: "We have made it clear all along that there would be cases in Wales and everyone must continue to be vigilant and try to reduce the spread of the virus.

"It is likely that further cases will continue to emerge and we are continuing to monitor the situation very closely.

"However, while numbers remain low, our focus continues to be on learning as much as we can about the virus and working to slow its spread.

Although it is natural for people to feel apprehensive, we would like to reassure the public that we have been working to prepare for the arrival of the virus for many years and have robust procedures in place

Dr Tony Jewell

"Our advice to the public remains the same, people should follow good respiratory and hand hygiene to help prevent the spread of influenza - always using a tissue to catch sneezes, throwing away used tissues where germs can linger and regularly washing your hands, or cleaning them with a sanitising gel.

"Although it is natural for people to feel apprehensive, we would like to reassure the public that we have been working to prepare for the arrival of the virus for many years and have robust procedures in place."

Dr Roland Salmon, Director of the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, National Public Health Service for Wales, added: "We continue to advise that anyone who has flu-like symptoms and has travelled to one of the affected areas should stay at home and phone their GP or NHS Direct Wales.

"People should not go to Accident and Emergency Departments or to their GP surgery without ringing first, as this may risk spreading the infection. It also places undue pressure on the emergency services.

"Although there are indications that this flu is mild, we know that seasonal flu can be severe, particularly for elderly and vulnerable people, so there is still good reason for us all to take action to reduce its effects.

"Flu is often confused with a bad cold but is in fact far more serious and leads to many deaths each year in Wales.

"The National Public Health Service for Wales will continue to assess any person with flu-like symptoms who has travelled to affected areas."

NHS Direct can be contacted on 0845 46 47.
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 244 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 244 cases confirmed

Total count for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is somewhere around 244 or 246 for this evening. For those not familiar: United Kingdom = England + Scotland + Wales

The BBC Wales news on 31 May 2009 at 11.31 am (i.e. 10h31 GMT) quotes these numbers:

There are now 230 confirmed cases in the UK - one case in Wales, 17 cases in Scotland, 211 cases in England and one in Northern Ireland.

The BBC Scotland news on 31 May 2009 at 17.34 (i.e. 16h34 GMT) quotes these numbers.

Two children have been confirmed with swine flu, taking the total number of cases in Scotland to 19.

The BBC England news on 31 May 2009 at 17.48 (i.e. 16h48 GMT) quotes these numbers:

Health chiefs confirmed there were another 17 cases of the virus across the UK, bringing the total to 246.

ECDC on 31 May 2009 at 17h00 CEST (i.e. 15h00 GMT) quotes these numbers:

United Kingdom

Confirmed cases reported in the last 24h --------------- 15
Cumulative number of confirmed cases ------------------ 244
Cumulative number of in-country transmission----------- 158

I'll let the reader do the final tally... :D
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 255 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 255 cases confirmed

Swine flu

03 June 2009, 3pm: Department of Health statement

18 further patients under investigation in England have today been confirmed with swine flu (see HPA website for regional breakdown). Together with the 23 cases in Scotland announced yesterday (Tuesday June 02 2009) by the Scottish Executive and one in Northern Ireland announced by the Northern Ireland Executive this brings the current total number of confirmed UK cases to 381.

The localised cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been generally mild, and we have not seen evidence of widespread community transmission.

We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease and to put in place arrangements to ensure that the UK is well-placed to deal with this new infection.

But we must not be complacent — it is right to prepare for the possibility of a global pandemic.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/Swineflu/index.htm
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 381 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 381 cases confirmed

Eighteen more swine flu cases confirmed as UK total rises to 381


Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Health
Wednesday 3rd June 2009 - 3:54pm

Another 18 people were confirmed with swine flu in England today, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 381, health officials said.

The new cases bring the number of those affected by the H1N1 virus in England to 313.

There have been 65 cases confirmed in Scotland, two in Northern Ireland and one in Wales.

A further 297 possible UK cases are under investigation.

In Scotland, two people were being treated in intensive care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

The Scottish Government said they were in a "critical but stable" condition.

Neither case was linked to any other previously known cluster.

One of the cases involved a 45-year-old man, from Paisley, who is thought to be the first person in the UK to be admitted to intensive case without any underlying health conditions.

The other case involved a 38-year-old woman, from Glasgow, who was admitted to intensive care, although she did have previous health issues.

Yesterday the World Health Organisation warned it was "getting closer" to declaring a global outbreak of the virus.

The WHO said the virus appeared to be taking hold outside of North America.

The overwhelming majority of cases and deaths have been reported in Mexico and the US, but increasingly the virus is spreading from person to person in countries as far apart as Britain, Spain, Japan, Chile and Australia.

The number of swine flu cases worldwide has reached 19,273, according to WHO figures.

The virus has been confirmed in 66 countries.

Egypt and Nicaragua are the latest countries to report one case each.

The WHO said the death toll from the virus stands at 117.

Eton College said it was still hoping to reopen on June 7 although more boys have tested positive for swine flu since the school first closed.

The Berkshire school, which was attended by Princes William and Harry, decided not to open after the half-term break after a 13-year-old boy tested positive for the virus on Thursday.

Parents then received a letter from the HPA saying there were 32 suspected cases at the school including seven probable and 25 possible.

Of those, three were confirmed, bringing the total to at least four.

The school said today that it was not in a position to provide further confirmation about cases.

A statement read: "Eton's latest information from the Health Protection Agency is that, while they have been away, more boys have tested positive for swine flu and that some further cases are under investigation.

"Most boys' symptoms, although uncomfortable, are generally short-lived and relatively mild, and no boys have needed to go to hospital."

A decision on whether to reopen the school as planned on Sunday evening will be made on Friday.

The statement said some boys who tested positive had recovered fully and were back for exams, adding: "Public examinations are running normally for the great majority of boys; over 95% of candidates sat major exams in the first two days of this week."
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 428 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 428 cases confirmed

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hJsFQEyyrjgBhL00Zq8_OJJCQWJw

24 more swine flu cases confirmed

Another 24 cases of swine flu have been confirmed, taking the UK total to 428.

Twenty-three patients were confirmed as having the virus in England alongside one new case in Wales.

In total, eight of the cases were in the South East, with small numbers in other regions.

Scotland is the hardest hit part of the UK per head of population. Four people with the virus remain in intensive care in the Glasgow area and another 84 cases have previously been confirmed in Scotland.

Three people - two woman aged 23 and 38 and a 45-year-old man - are in intensive care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley. A 37-year-old man is also in a critical but stable condition in Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary. Three of the four patients have an underlying health condition.

Eton College in Berkshire has been struck by the virus. The school, which was attended by Princes William and Harry, will make a decision on Friday on whether to reopen as planned on Sunday.

At least six pupils have been confirmed with H1N1 at the school but it said it was not in a position to confirm numbers of positive or possible cases.


Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has warned it is "getting closer" to declaring a global outbreak of the virus.

The WHO said the virus appeared to be taking hold outside of North America. The overwhelming majority of cases and deaths have been reported in Mexico and the US, but increasingly the virus is spreading from person to person in countries as far apart as Britain, Spain, Japan, Chile and Australia.

The virus has been confirmed in 66 countries. The WHO said the death toll from the virus stands at 117.
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 1,164 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 1,164 cases confirmed

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8098895.stm


'Unpredictable' swine flu spreads

A further 172 patients have been confirmed with swine flu in the UK, bringing the total infected to 1,164.

Of the new cases, 117 are in England and 55 in Scotland, where authorities say errors meant they previously over-estimated the number of infections.

A Department of Health (DoH) spokesman said only a minority of cases nationwide were proving to be severe.

Health experts say it is now becoming more difficult to track and predict where the virus will spread next.

The Scottish Government said the majority (42) of new swine flu cases were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. The other infections happened in Highland, Lanarkshire and Lothian.

The government blamed a "procedural testing error" in a virology laboratory for wrongly labelling 11 previous cases of swine flu as positive, when subsequent tests found them to be negative.

Another false-positive swine-flu case in Lothian has also proved negative, following further tests.

Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the high volume of tests being processed "inevitably" meant errors would occur.


But she added: "We are one of the best prepared countries in the world."

'Well-placed'

Of the new cases in England, 70 are in the West Midlands, where 299 people have now been infected.

There have been nine new swine flu cases in London and five in the South East, three in Yorkshire and Humberside, two in the North West and one each in North East and East England.

Another 26 cases in England have not yet been broken down into geographical areas.

A DoH spokesman said: "The localised cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been generally mild in most people, but are proving to be severe in a small minority of cases.


"We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease and to put in place arrangements to ensure that the UK is well-placed to deal with this new infection."

Pandemic declared

Around 30,000 cases of swine flu have so far been detected in 74 countries, and more than 140 people have died worldwide.

The World Health Organization recently declared a pandemic following a sharp increase in the number of cases in Australia.

In the UK , the government now accepts that what it terms "sustained community transmission" is now taking place.

This is characterised by an increased number of sporadic cases with no identifiable link with other confirmed cases

The government estimates that the UK has enough anti-viral drugs for 50% of the population but has plans to raise that figure to 80%.
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 1,226 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 1,226 cases confirmed

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ira59wxnh7fQL0PUdqAsSHnWo2Ow

Confirmed cases of swine flu in Britain rise to 1,226

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ? 1 hour ago

LONDON ? Another 61 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in England, bringing the U.K. total to 1,226 cases.

Health officials confirmed the latest tally on Sunday.

Britain has been harder hit by the virus than elsewhere in Europe.

The U.K. experienced the biggest one-day rise in the number of confirmed infections on Saturday, with 172 patients in England and Scotland confirmed.

The World Health Organization has declared the flu a pandemic.
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 1,320 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 1,320 cases confirmed

- snip -

Last night the Department of Health said that the number of confirmed cases in Britain had reached 1,320.

But experts were quick to reassure the public that the first fatality did not mean that the virus has become more deadly.

Studies of swine flu outbreaks in America and Mexico have suggested the virus is fatal in 0.2 per cent of cases and deaths are more common in people with long term conditions which have included asthma, lung disease, chronic cardiovascular disease, renal failure, seizure disorders and cancer.

Obesity and diabetes have also been linked to an increased risk of death in swine flu patients.

Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer for England, said: "So far the flu that's emerged is not a serious illness for the majority of people.

"In a small proportion of people it will cause serious illness.

"So, up to now, we've seen a pattern around the world where the majority of people who get this form of flu recover very well with no long-term complications."
Alex Salmond, the Scottish First Minister, said: "I think all of us in Scotland will feel very deeply for the feelings of the family at the present time."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/s...eadly-effects-of-swine-flu-touch-Britain.html
 
Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 1461 cases confirmed

Re: United Kingdom - A/H1N1 - 1461 cases confirmed

[Note: to the 1461 in England, add those of Scotland]

UK swine flu highest in Europe

The UK has the highest number of confirmed swine flu cases in Europe
An extra 141 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in England, making the UK home to the highest number of confirmed cases in Europe.

The national total now stands at 1,461 patients since April 2009.
This number does not include clinically diagnosed cases in Scotland where the virus has spread particularly fast. These are yet to be confirmed.
At the weekend a 38-year-old Scottish woman became the first victim of the virus outside America.

Jacqui Fleming from Glasgow had given birth to a premature boy two weeks before her death at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. The baby, named Jack, who also died did not have swine flu.

In a statement the family said, "our whole family is absolutely devastated."
"Generally mild"

Professor Hugh Pennington, a bacteriologist at Aberdeen University, says the death does not indicate that the virus is any more virulent.

"It does not point to the virus getting nastier. All the evidence to date suggests the virus is not changing at all," he said.

A Department of Health spokesperson said "The localised cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been generally mild in most people, but are proving to be severe in a small minority of cases.

All the evidence to date suggests the virus is not changing at all

Professor Hugh Pennington

"We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease and to put in place arrangements to ensure that the UK is well-placed to deal with this new infection."

Pandemic

Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) held an emergency meeting at which it declared a global flu pandemic, the first in 40 years.
A pandemic is declared on geographical terms as the virus spreads, but it does mean that it is causing more severe illness or a greater number of deaths.

The swine flu (H1N1) virus has now spread to 76 countries after it was first detected in Mexico in April. Young working age adults have been the most likely to contract the virus, with a third to a half of complications presenting in otherwise healthy people.

The government has been stockpiling antivirals like Tamiflu and has ordered vaccine. The first doses could be administered in October.
Anyone suffering from flu-like symptoms is advised to seek medical attention and stay at home.
 
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