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/8026121.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Adverts seek to combat flu threat UK to see 'more' swine flu cases
(about 2 hours later)
An advertising campaign promoting good hygiene to help combat the threat of swine flu has been launched in the UK. Britain will see "many, many more cases" of swine flu but most of those affected will recover, the government's chief medical adviser has said.
The Department of Health's Catch it, Bin it, Kill it! adverts urge people to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, throw them away and wash their hands. Sir Liam Donaldson told the BBC although some cases would be serious, the UK had a "clear plan" which would help mitigate the virus's impact.
Five people in the UK, including a girl of 12, are known to have the virus, but all are responding well to treatment.Five people in the UK, including a girl of 12, are known to have the virus, but all are responding well to treatment.
Hundreds of British tourists are flying home on special charter flights from Mexico, where the outbreak started. An advertising campaign to help prevent swine flu's spread has been launched.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its alert to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic. Sir Liam told BBC Breakfast: "What we will see is many, many more cases, and inevitably some serious cases - but on the whole people make a good recovery from flu."
UK cases It was impossible to predict how many deaths there could be in the UK until more was known about the strain of the swine flu virus, he said.
'Not alarmed'
But certain groups would be more vulnerable than others, such as the elderly and very frail, he explained.
However, Sir Liam said the UK was well prepared for the spread of swine flu and that he was "concerned, but not alarmed" about the situation.
CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 159 suspected deaths, seven confirmed casesUS: One death, at least 91 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 13 confirmed casesUK: Five confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesGermany: Three confirmed cases eachIsrael: Two confirmed casesAustria: One confirmed case In pictures: Swine flu spreads Mapping the outbreak Life at centre of the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences
"I'm in a position where I feel we can reassure the public that we know what we are doing, we have a clear plan in place and we will do everything possible to mitigate the impact of this," he said.
"We can't make it go away, lots of people will become ill, but we hope we will be able to deal with the problem in an orderly and organised way."
Sir Liam had earlier ruled out screening all British travellers returning from Mexico, saying it was more important to "concentrate the public health attention" on those showing symptoms.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its alert to level five - one short of a full-blown pandemic.
The Department of Health's Catch it, Bin it, Kill it! adverts urge people to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, throw them away and wash their hands.
"When you cough or sneeze, your germs go everywhere. Fast. And once they've hit a surface, they can survive for hours," warns the Department of Health's print advert."When you cough or sneeze, your germs go everywhere. Fast. And once they've hit a surface, they can survive for hours," warns the Department of Health's print advert.
CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 159 suspected deaths, seven confirmed casesUS: one death, at least 91 confirmed casesCanada: 13 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 13 confirmed casesUK: five confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesGermany: three confirmed cases eachIsrael: two confirmed casesAustria: one confirmed case class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8022041.stm">In pictures: Swine flu spreads class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8021547.stm">Mapping the outbreak class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/8021483.stm">Life at centre of the outbreak class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/8018428.stm">Swine flu: Your experiences "Covering your mouth and nose with your hand won't stop them. But a tissue will."
"Covering your mouth and nose with your hand won't stop them. But a tissue will. School closed
"Catch the sneeze, then bin the tissue and wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible to kill the germs." Five cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the UK - all in people who have recently returned from Mexico, where there have been almost 160 suspected deaths.
Five cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the UK - all in people who have recently returned from Mexico, where there have been almost 160 suspected deaths from swine flu. A 41-year-old woman from Redditch, Worcestershire, a 22-year-old from Barnet, north London, a couple from near Falkirk and a 12-year-old from Devon have all been diagnosed with swine flu.
A 41-year-old woman from Redditch, Worcestershire, a 22-year-old from Barnet, north London, a couple from near Falkirk and a 12-year-old from Devon have all been diagnosed. The schoolgirl had been on the same flight home as the first patients confirmed in the UK, Iain and Dawn Askham, from Polmont, near Falkirk.
The schoolgirl, named locally as 12-year-old Amy Whitehouse, had been on the same flight home as the first patients confirmed in the UK, Iain and Dawn Askham, from Polmont, near Falkirk.
The girl's school, Paignton Community College, has been closed for at least seven days and pupils are being offered anti-viral drugs.The girl's school, Paignton Community College, has been closed for at least seven days and pupils are being offered anti-viral drugs.
'Increased urgency' Hundreds of British tourists are also flying home on special charter flights from Mexico, where the outbreak started.
Announcing the level five alert on Wednesday, WHO director general Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures. Announcing the level five alert, WHO director general Margaret Chan urged all countries to activate their pandemic plans, including heightened surveillance and infection-control measures.
She said action should be undertaken with "increased urgency", adding: "It really is the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic."She said action should be undertaken with "increased urgency", adding: "It really is the whole of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic."
The move followed the death of a 23-month-old Mexican child in Texas, US - the first death from swine flu outside Mexico.The move followed the death of a 23-month-old Mexican child in Texas, US - the first death from swine flu outside Mexico.
The UK government's chief medical advisor, Sir Liam Donaldson, told the BBC Breakfast programme the UK would see "many, many" more cases of the virus, with some expected to be serious. On Wednesday, during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Gordon Brown said that the UK was taking "the precautions to prevent the incidence of this disease in this country".
Although it was impossible to predict how many people would die as a result of swine flu, most would recover, he said. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/health/8021958.stm">Q&A: What is swine flu? class="" href="/1/hi/health/8022102.stm">Swine flu: How serious a threat?
But Sir Liam ruled out screening all British travellers returning from Mexico.
"They're very large numbers of people involved, and the main thing we need to do is concentrate the public health attention on the things which are going to make the big difference," he told BBC Five Live.
On Wednesday, during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Gordon Brown said that the UK was taking "the preparations that are necessary and the precautions to prevent the incidence of this disease in this country".
This included enhanced airport checks, expanding anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, ordering extra face masks and printing an information leaflet for every family, he said.This included enhanced airport checks, expanding anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, ordering extra face masks and printing an information leaflet for every family, he said.
Delivery of public information leaflets is expected to begin within days, as part of planned measures to cope with potential pandemics.
The government's emergency committee Cobra is also considering possible restrictions to large gatherings like concerts and sporting events.The government's emergency committee Cobra is also considering possible restrictions to large gatherings like concerts and sporting events.
Supplies of antibiotics are to be increased to deal with any complications arising as a result of flu infections, although the Conservatives say ministers have been slow to stockpile the drugs. Supplies of antibiotics are to be increased to deal with any complications arising as a result of flu infections.
Suspected cases
NHS Direct has taken thousands of calls about swine flu this week, while daily visits to its website have reached 85,000, compared with about 55,000 a week earlier.NHS Direct has taken thousands of calls about swine flu this week, while daily visits to its website have reached 85,000, compared with about 55,000 a week earlier.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/health/8021958.stm">Q&A: What is swine flu? class="" href="/1/hi/health/8022102.stm">Swine flu: How serious a threat? More than 70 people in the UK are currently being tested for the virus, with 20 possible cases in Wales and 32 in Scotland.
The health minister in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has said 32 cases are being checked there. No suspected cases have yet been reported in Northern Ireland.
Ms Sturgeon said eight people who had been in contact with the Askhams had tested negative, while the result of one other remained outstanding.
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 them in Wales.
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.
Members of the public can call 0800 1513513 for recorded information about swine flu. In Scotland, anyone with concerns about the virus can call 08454 24 24 24.Members of the public can call 0800 1513513 for recorded information about swine flu. In Scotland, anyone with concerns about the virus can call 08454 24 24 24.
Are you or is someone you know affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Are you or is someone you know affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions