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| Scots swine flu couple discharged | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The first Britons confirmed to have caught swine flu have been discharged from hospital after recovering. | The first Britons confirmed to have caught swine flu have been discharged from hospital after recovering. |
| Newly-wed couple Iain and Dawn Askham, from Polmont near Falkirk, were found to have the virus after returning from a trip to Mexico. | Newly-wed couple Iain and Dawn Askham, from Polmont near Falkirk, were found to have the virus after returning from a trip to Mexico. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said one man who had been in contact with the couple was now being treated as a "probable" case after being re-tested. | |
| If he tests positive, it would be the first onward transmission in the UK. | |
| A further 27 possible cases are under investigation in Scotland. | |
| The Askhams were released after being treated in Monklands Hospital, Airdrie. | |
| Virus 'adapting' | Virus 'adapting' |
| So far, there have been eight confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK and the UN's World Health Organization has raised the alert to level five, meaning a pandemic is considered "imminent". | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond told the Scottish Parliament that a total of 41 people had now been tested and cleared for swine flu, which has been linked to about 160 deaths in Mexico. | |
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| The Askhams left hospital on Thursday | |
| He said the person-to-person spread of swine flu had to be anticipated. | |
| "What we have done, it seems, in our identified cases is effectively bought ourselves some time in terms of interrupting the spread of the virus," he said. | "What we have done, it seems, in our identified cases is effectively bought ourselves some time in terms of interrupting the spread of the virus," he said. |
| "That is obviously very valuable because the more time you can buy, the less people are going to fall ill." | "That is obviously very valuable because the more time you can buy, the less people are going to fall ill." |
| The first minister went on: "The reality now, however, from the World Health Organization is that we must anticipate - however good our measures are, however effective our countermeasures, and however much we try to interrupt the spread of this virus - there is a likelihood there will be cases - further cases, and person-to-person cases." | The first minister went on: "The reality now, however, from the World Health Organization is that we must anticipate - however good our measures are, however effective our countermeasures, and however much we try to interrupt the spread of this virus - there is a likelihood there will be cases - further cases, and person-to-person cases." |
| During first minister's questions, Mr Salmond said the last two tests of individuals who had been in close contact with the Askhams had come back negative for swine flu. | During first minister's questions, Mr Salmond said the last two tests of individuals who had been in close contact with the Askhams had come back negative for swine flu. |
| But he said two new close contact cases had been identified, while one man who had previously tested negative was being re-tested. | |
| SWINE FLU ADVICE Use clean tissues when you cough or sneezeBin tissues after useWash hands with soap, hot water or gel class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/30_04_09_swineflu.pdf">NHS: Important Information About Swine Flu [118 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here | |
| Ms Sturgeon said later that the man had tested positive for influenza A, which meant he was now being treated as a "probable" case. Tests are continuing. | |
| Mr Salmond told MSPs that in the past 24 hours a further 19 travel-related possible cases had been identified in Scotland and 24 possible cases had been cleared following negative test results. | |
| The Glasgow case is travel-related and not connected to the Askhams, Mr Salmond said. | |
| He explained a probable case was where someone tests positive for Type A flu, but not the full strain of the virus, which can only be confirmed through more detailed testing. | He explained a probable case was where someone tests positive for Type A flu, but not the full strain of the virus, which can only be confirmed through more detailed testing. |
| MSPs were also told that anti-viral drugs were being moved from central stockpiles to more local distribution points. | MSPs were also told that anti-viral drugs were being moved from central stockpiles to more local distribution points. |
| A dedicated swine flu advice line for Scotland went live on Thursday afternoon. | |
| The line, which can be accessed through NHS 24, will give information about swine flu and what to do if people have concerns. | |
| Callers to the NHS 24 number - 08454 24 24 24 - will be given the option of being put straight through to a dedicated team dealing with swine flu. | Callers to the NHS 24 number - 08454 24 24 24 - will be given the option of being put straight through to a dedicated team dealing with swine flu. |