This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8018887.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UK monitoring swine flu outbreak | UK monitoring swine flu outbreak |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Health officials in the UK say they are closely monitoring the deadly outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and the US, amid fears of a potential pandemic. | Health officials in the UK say they are closely monitoring the deadly outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and the US, amid fears of a potential pandemic. |
| The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it was working with the government to assess any threat posed to public health in the UK. | The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it was working with the government to assess any threat posed to public health in the UK. |
| It described the outbreak as "unusual" and warranting "further investigation and vigilance" by other countries. | It described the outbreak as "unusual" and warranting "further investigation and vigilance" by other countries. |
| However, no cases have so far been identified anywhere in Europe. | However, no cases have so far been identified anywhere in Europe. |
| At least 81 people in Mexico are now thought to have died from pneumonia after contracting swine flu. | |
| Swine flu is a respiratory disease that infects pigs and does not normally infect humans. | Swine flu is a respiratory disease that infects pigs and does not normally infect humans. |
| However, sporadic cases do occur, usually in people who have had close contact with pigs. | However, sporadic cases do occur, usually in people who have had close contact with pigs. |
| Precautionary tests | Precautionary tests |
| The WHO said some of those affected in Mexico had tested positive for a strain - H1N1 - that had infected at least seven people in the south-western US. | The WHO said some of those affected in Mexico had tested positive for a strain - H1N1 - that had infected at least seven people in the south-western US. |
| The concern is that because this strain appears to be passing easily from human to human, it has the potential to spread rapidly. | |
| WHO Director-general Margaret Chan said the strain had "pandemic potential" but that it was too early to say whether one would actually occur. | |
| The HPA and the NHS have systems in place which will alert public health authorities of any unusual strain circulating in the UK Health Protection Authority statement Q&A: Swine flu | The HPA and the NHS have systems in place which will alert public health authorities of any unusual strain circulating in the UK Health Protection Authority statement Q&A: Swine flu |
| The HPA said: "More investigation and testing is needed to determine the severity of the disease and the ease with which it can spread. | The HPA said: "More investigation and testing is needed to determine the severity of the disease and the ease with which it can spread. |
| "The HPA is monitoring this situation closely and is working with the UK government to review the current incident and any threat it poses to UK public health." | "The HPA is monitoring this situation closely and is working with the UK government to review the current incident and any threat it poses to UK public health." |
| Meanwhile, a male British Airways cabin crew member is undergoing precautionary tests in a London hospital after falling ill with "flu-like" symptoms on a flight from Mexico City. | Meanwhile, a male British Airways cabin crew member is undergoing precautionary tests in a London hospital after falling ill with "flu-like" symptoms on a flight from Mexico City. |
| He was taken to Northwick Park Hospital, in Harrow after landing at Heathrow airport at 1400 BST (1300 GMT) on Saturday. | He was taken to Northwick Park Hospital, in Harrow after landing at Heathrow airport at 1400 BST (1300 GMT) on Saturday. |
| A hospital spokesman said: "He has flu-like symptoms and is responding well to treatment. | A hospital spokesman said: "He has flu-like symptoms and is responding well to treatment. |
| "The patient was admitted directly to a side room and the hospital is scrupulously following infection-control procedures to ensure there is no risk to any other individual in the hospital." | "The patient was admitted directly to a side room and the hospital is scrupulously following infection-control procedures to ensure there is no risk to any other individual in the hospital." |
| Antiviral drugs | Antiviral drugs |
| The HPA said there was currently a "very low level" of flu activity in the UK, adding that the H1N1 strain at the centre of the American alert was treatable with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza. | The HPA said there was currently a "very low level" of flu activity in the UK, adding that the H1N1 strain at the centre of the American alert was treatable with antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza. |
| "The HPA and the NHS have systems in place which will alert public health authorities of any unusual strain circulating in the UK," it said. | "The HPA and the NHS have systems in place which will alert public health authorities of any unusual strain circulating in the UK," it said. |
| Britons are not currently being advised to avoid travelling to affected areas of Mexico and the US. | Britons are not currently being advised to avoid travelling to affected areas of Mexico and the US. |
| However, the Foreign Office recommends that anyone visiting those destinations - or who has recently returned - should consult a doctor if they experience flu-like symptoms. | However, the Foreign Office recommends that anyone visiting those destinations - or who has recently returned - should consult a doctor if they experience flu-like symptoms. |
| To prevent the spread of illness, the HPA advised people to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to throw away dirty tissues promptly and carefully, and to wash hands and surfaces which are regularly touched. | To prevent the spread of illness, the HPA advised people to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to throw away dirty tissues promptly and carefully, and to wash hands and surfaces which are regularly touched. |