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| Three new swine flu cases in UK | Three new swine flu cases in UK |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A 12-year-old girl is among five people in the UK with swine flu after visiting Mexico, Gordon Brown has confirmed. | A 12-year-old girl is among five people in the UK with swine flu after visiting Mexico, Gordon Brown has confirmed. |
| Four adults - one from Redditch, Worcs, one in London, and a couple from near Falkirk - also have the virus. | Four adults - one from Redditch, Worcs, one in London, and a couple from near Falkirk - also have the virus. |
| The prime minister said the five were responding well to treatment. The girl's school in Devon has shut, with pupils offered anti-viral drugs. | The prime minister said the five were responding well to treatment. The girl's school in Devon has shut, with pupils offered anti-viral drugs. |
| The World Health Organization has raised its alert to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic. | The World Health Organization has raised its alert to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic. |
| The number of swine flu cases globally is rising and the US has confirmed that the death of a 23-month-old Mexican child in Texas was the first fatality outside Mexico. | The number of swine flu cases globally is rising and the US has confirmed that the death of a 23-month-old Mexican child in Texas was the first fatality outside Mexico. |
| The BBC's Alex Bushill in Paignton, Devon | The BBC's Alex Bushill in Paignton, Devon |
| No school expected to be at the centre of a national media storm, but for the pupils of Paignton Community and Sports College in south Devon, there were to be even more shocks and surprises. | No school expected to be at the centre of a national media storm, but for the pupils of Paignton Community and Sports College in south Devon, there were to be even more shocks and surprises. |
| A little after 1300 BST this afternoon, the 2,000 pupils were told that one of their friends had contracted swine flu from a recent trip to Mexico. They did not know it, but already satellite vans and cameramen were gathering outside the school gate and the prime minister had announced on the floor of the Commons that a 12-year-old girl at the school was ill with the virus. | A little after 1300 BST this afternoon, the 2,000 pupils were told that one of their friends had contracted swine flu from a recent trip to Mexico. They did not know it, but already satellite vans and cameramen were gathering outside the school gate and the prime minister had announced on the floor of the Commons that a 12-year-old girl at the school was ill with the virus. |
| Although she is now responding well to drugs, there is a great deal of anger amongst parents and pupils alike that they were not told in advance. | Although she is now responding well to drugs, there is a great deal of anger amongst parents and pupils alike that they were not told in advance. |
| In amongst the tears, parents came to collect their children as the school was closed. Reeling not just from the shock that swine flu had arrived on their doorstep, but in the manner that they had heard the worrying news. Parents' shock at swine flu news | In amongst the tears, parents came to collect their children as the school was closed. Reeling not just from the shock that swine flu had arrived on their doorstep, but in the manner that they had heard the worrying news. Parents' shock at swine flu news |
| Mr Brown revealed the latest UK cases at Prime Minister's Questions. All of those affected have travelled recently from Mexico, he said. | Mr Brown revealed the latest UK cases at Prime Minister's Questions. All of those affected have travelled recently from Mexico, he said. |
| "All of them have mild symptoms. All of them are receiving and are responding well to the treatment that has been effective so far, the use of Tamiflu [anti-viral drug]," he said. | "All of them have mild symptoms. All of them are receiving and are responding well to the treatment that has been effective so far, the use of Tamiflu [anti-viral drug]," he said. |
| The UK was taking "the preparations that are necessary and the precautions to prevent the incidence of this disease in this country", the prime minister added. | The UK was taking "the preparations that are necessary and the precautions to prevent the incidence of this disease in this country", the prime minister added. |
| This included enhanced airport checks, expanding anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, ordering extra masks and printing an information leaflet for every family, he added. | This included enhanced airport checks, expanding anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, ordering extra masks and printing an information leaflet for every family, he added. |
| Delivery of public information leaflets is expected to begin within days, as part of planned measures to cope with potential pandemics. | Delivery of public information leaflets is expected to begin within days, as part of planned measures to cope with potential pandemics. |
| With the WHO move to a level five alert, the UK planning framework suggests its "response plans must be ready for instant implementation". | With the WHO move to a level five alert, the UK planning framework suggests its "response plans must be ready for instant implementation". |
| The health minister in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, said 32 Scottish cases were being checked. | The health minister in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, said 32 Scottish cases were being checked. |
| She told MSPs at Holyrood that so far, no-one in Scotland other than Iain and Dawn Askham from Polmont, near Falkirk - the UK's first confirmed cases - had tested positive. | She told MSPs at Holyrood that so far, no-one in Scotland other than Iain and Dawn Askham from Polmont, near Falkirk - the UK's first confirmed cases - had tested positive. |
| Ms Sturgeon said eight people who had been in contact with the couple had tested negative, while the result of one other remained outstanding. She added that Mrs and Mrs Askham were "recovering well". | Ms Sturgeon said eight people who had been in contact with the couple had tested negative, while the result of one other remained outstanding. She added that Mrs and Mrs Askham were "recovering well". |
| CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases US: 1 death, at least 91 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesUK: 5 confirmed casesSpain: 4 confirmed casesGermany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases eachIsrael: 2 confirmed casesAustria: 1 confirmed case In pictures: Swine flu spreads Life at centre of the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences Mapping the outbreak | CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 159 suspected deaths - seven confirmed cases US: 1 death, at least 91 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesUK: 5 confirmed casesSpain: 4 confirmed casesGermany, New Zealand: 3 confirmed cases eachIsrael: 2 confirmed casesAustria: 1 confirmed case In pictures: Swine flu spreads Life at centre of the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences Mapping the outbreak |
| The Department of Health said the other confirmed adult cases involved a 41-year-old woman from Redditch, Worcs, and a 22-year-old man from south London. | The Department of Health said the other confirmed adult cases involved a 41-year-old woman from Redditch, Worcs, and a 22-year-old man from south London. |
| At a press conference, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said that the 12-year-old in Devon had been on the same flight from Mexico as the Askhams. | At a press conference, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said that the 12-year-old in Devon had been on the same flight from Mexico as the Askhams. |
| The closure of her school, Paignton Community College, will be reviewed after seven days. | The closure of her school, Paignton Community College, will be reviewed after seven days. |
| Mr Johnson said that all UK cases of swine flu so far were linked directly to Mexico and said the government would increase stockpiles of anti-viral drugs to provide for 50 million people. | Mr Johnson said that all UK cases of swine flu so far were linked directly to Mexico and said the government would increase stockpiles of anti-viral drugs to provide for 50 million people. |
| He added that a print, TV and radio advertising campaign would be launched on Thursday which would "warn the public about swine flu and remind people to cover their noses and mouths with tissues and then throw the tissue away". | He added that a print, TV and radio advertising campaign would be launched on Thursday which would "warn the public about swine flu and remind people to cover their noses and mouths with tissues and then throw the tissue away". |
| Later in the House of Commons, he said supplies of antibiotics would be increased to deal with any complications arising as a result of flu infections. | Later in the House of Commons, he said supplies of antibiotics would be increased to deal with any complications arising as a result of flu infections. |
| "The threat we face is serious but we have never been as prepared for a pandemic as we are now," he told MPs. | "The threat we face is serious but we have never been as prepared for a pandemic as we are now," he told MPs. |
| He also ruled out any need for slaughtering pigs in order to combat the spread of disease. | He also ruled out any need for slaughtering pigs in order to combat the spread of disease. |
| Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, said masks had been ordered for NHS staff - but warned that they had "very little value" to members of the public and gave a "false sense of security". | Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, said masks had been ordered for NHS staff - but warned that they had "very little value" to members of the public and gave a "false sense of security". |
| The Conservatives have hit out at the government because a national pandemic flu helpline set out in the government plans is not expected to be operational before the autumn. | The Conservatives have hit out at the government because a national pandemic flu helpline set out in the government plans is not expected to be operational before the autumn. |
| From Thursday however, the public will be able to call a telephone number for recorded information about the virus. | From Thursday however, the public will be able to call a telephone number for recorded information about the virus. |
| Mr Cameron said that without a flu line there was a danger that NHS Direct could be "swamped" with calls. | Mr Cameron said that without a flu line there was a danger that NHS Direct could be "swamped" with calls. |
| Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart told the National Assembly for Wales that as well as the five confirmed cases, a further 76 patients were being tested across the UK, 20 of whom were in Wales. | Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart told the National Assembly for Wales that as well as the five confirmed cases, a further 76 patients were being tested across the UK, 20 of whom were in Wales. |
| No cases have yet been reported in Northern Ireland. | No cases have yet been reported in Northern Ireland. |
| The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it was not releasing details about any suspected cases in England until swine flu was confirmed. | The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said it was not releasing details about any suspected cases in England until swine flu was confirmed. |
| SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, aches, chills and fatigueIf you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, seek medical adviceIf you suspect you are infected, stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infectionSwine flu information line available from Thursday 0800 1513513 Q&A: What is swine flu? Swine flu: How serious a threat? | SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, aches, chills and fatigueIf you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, seek medical adviceIf you suspect you are infected, stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infectionSwine flu information line available from Thursday 0800 1513513 Q&A: What is swine flu? Swine flu: How serious a threat? |
| The travel agents First Choice confirmed that Mr and Mrs Askham, as well as the 12-year-old girl, all arrived into Birmingham International Airport on a Thompson flight from Cancun on Tuesday 21 April. | The travel agents First Choice confirmed that Mr and Mrs Askham, as well as the 12-year-old girl, all arrived into Birmingham International Airport on a Thompson flight from Cancun on Tuesday 21 April. |
| In a statement, First Choice said its primary concern was the welfare of its customers, adding that it was co-operating with the authorities. | In a statement, First Choice said its primary concern was the welfare of its customers, adding that it was co-operating with the authorities. |
| Torbay NHS Care Trust said the 12-year-old in Devon was in isolation at home and had "already responded well to treatment". | Torbay NHS Care Trust said the 12-year-old in Devon was in isolation at home and had "already responded well to treatment". |
| Health officials in the West Midlands said the infected woman in Redditch was being treated at home with anti-viral medication, and was responding well to treatment. | Health officials in the West Midlands said the infected woman in Redditch was being treated at home with anti-viral medication, and was responding well to treatment. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alert over the spread of swine flu to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic. | The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alert over the spread of swine flu to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic. |
| A phase five alert means human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. | A phase five alert means human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. |