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| Swine flu couple 'feared dying' | Swine flu couple 'feared dying' |
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| The newly-weds who were the UK's first swine flu cases have told how they feared they might die from the virus. | The newly-weds who were the UK's first swine flu cases have told how they feared they might die from the virus. |
| Iain Askham, of Polmont, near Falkirk, told the Daily Mail: "You try to stay calm but at the back of your mind there is the possibility that you might die." | Iain Askham, of Polmont, near Falkirk, told the Daily Mail: "You try to stay calm but at the back of your mind there is the possibility that you might die." |
| He and wife Dawn believe they caught the virus on a flight back from Mexico. | He and wife Dawn believe they caught the virus on a flight back from Mexico. |
| Test results will reveal later whether a friend of theirs is the first person in the UK to have contracted the virus without having visited Mexico. | Test results will reveal later whether a friend of theirs is the first person in the UK to have contracted the virus without having visited Mexico. |
| The man, in his 20s, who was in contact with the Askhams after they returned from honeymoon, has been referred to as a "probable" case by Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon. | The man, in his 20s, who was in contact with the Askhams after they returned from honeymoon, has been referred to as a "probable" case by Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon. |
| So far eight swine flu cases have been confirmed in the UK but this would represent the first case of onward transmission of the virus in the country. | So far eight swine flu cases have been confirmed in the UK but this would represent the first case of onward transmission of the virus in the country. |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "Obviously the circumstances around this individual do give us cause for concern - the symptoms don't give us cause for concern, but the circumstances give us cause for concern." | |
| Mr and Mrs Askham returned to their home on Thursday having been treated for five nights in separate isolation rooms at Monklands Hospital, Airdrie. | Mr and Mrs Askham returned to their home on Thursday having been treated for five nights in separate isolation rooms at Monklands Hospital, Airdrie. |
| "It was particularly hard to bear, because I knew that Dawn was next door and that she wasn't well," Mr Askham told the newspaper. | "It was particularly hard to bear, because I knew that Dawn was next door and that she wasn't well," Mr Askham told the newspaper. |
| "She was so close and yet I could not reach her. I just wanted to give her a cuddle and reassure her." | "She was so close and yet I could not reach her. I just wanted to give her a cuddle and reassure her." |
| 'Responding well' | |
| The couple said they believed they contracted the virus on their flight back from Cancun, during which several passengers were coughing and sneezing. | The couple said they believed they contracted the virus on their flight back from Cancun, during which several passengers were coughing and sneezing. |
| Of the eight cases confirmed in the UK so far, three are in London, there has been one each in Newcastle upon Tyne and Redditch, Worcestershire, and a 12-year-old girl has tested positive in Paignton, Devon. | Of the eight cases confirmed in the UK so far, three are in London, there has been one each in Newcastle upon Tyne and Redditch, Worcestershire, and a 12-year-old girl has tested positive in Paignton, Devon. |
| All of those diagnosed are thought to have responded well to treatment. | All of those diagnosed are thought to have responded well to treatment. |
| CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 168 suspected deaths, 12 confirmedUS: one death, at least 109 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 3 confirmed, 13 probable casesCanada: 19 confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesUK: 8 confirmed casesGermany: 3 confirmed cases Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases eachThe Netherland, Switzerland, Austria: 1 confirmed case each How the UK is trying to contain flu Mapping the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences | CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 168 suspected deaths, 12 confirmedUS: one death, at least 109 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 3 confirmed, 13 probable casesCanada: 19 confirmed casesSpain: 10 confirmed casesUK: 8 confirmed casesGermany: 3 confirmed cases Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases eachThe Netherland, Switzerland, Austria: 1 confirmed case each How the UK is trying to contain flu Mapping the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences |
| A total of 230 possible cases are being investigated in the UK. | A total of 230 possible cases are being investigated in the UK. |
| However, Dr Alan McNally, senior lecturer and influenza diagnostics researcher at Nottingham Trent University, downplayed the significance of the suspected case linked to the Askhams. | |
| "We know that [the flu] is transmitted from human to human, it has happened in other parts of the world and we know it will happen here. | "We know that [the flu] is transmitted from human to human, it has happened in other parts of the world and we know it will happen here. |
| "I know that there will be interest in it because members of the public will see that they don't need to have been to Mexico to get it." | "I know that there will be interest in it because members of the public will see that they don't need to have been to Mexico to get it." |
| Showing symptoms | Showing symptoms |
| Cases of swine flu have been confirmed in 12 countries across three continents. | Cases of swine flu have been confirmed in 12 countries across three continents. |
| In cases outside Mexico, where 168 deaths are being linked to swine flu, the virus does not appear to be severe, although one death has been confirmed in the US. | In cases outside Mexico, where 168 deaths are being linked to swine flu, the virus does not appear to be severe, although one death has been confirmed in the US. |
| SWINE FLU ADVICE Use clean tissues when you cough or sneezeBin tissues after useWash hands with soap, hot water or gel NHS: Important Information About Swine Flu [118 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | SWINE FLU ADVICE Use clean tissues when you cough or sneezeBin tissues after useWash hands with soap, hot water or gel NHS: Important Information About Swine Flu [118 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) has set its pandemic alert level at five - but says it has no immediate plans to move to the highest level of six. | The World Health Organization (WHO) has set its pandemic alert level at five - but says it has no immediate plans to move to the highest level of six. |
| Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, has said the UK is well prepared for the spread of swine flu. | Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, has said the UK is well prepared for the spread of swine flu. |
| He added: "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." | He added: "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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| Sir Liam ruled out screening all British travellers returning from Mexico, saying it was more important to "concentrate the public health attention" on those showing symptoms. | Sir Liam ruled out screening all British travellers returning from Mexico, saying it was more important to "concentrate the public health attention" on those showing symptoms. |
| Advertising campaign | Advertising campaign |
| Some 28 suspected cases are being investigated in Scotland. | Some 28 suspected cases are being investigated in Scotland. |
| There are so far no confirmed swine flu cases in Wales, although 19 people have been tested for the virus. | There are so far no confirmed swine flu cases in Wales, although 19 people have been tested for the virus. |
| Six people in Northern Ireland have also been given anti-viral drugs as a precaution, but none of them has tested positive either. | Six people in Northern Ireland have also been given anti-viral drugs as a precaution, but none of them has tested positive either. |
| On Thursday, health chiefs in the Irish Republic said one man had tested positive for swine flu - its first case. | On Thursday, health chiefs in the Irish Republic said one man had tested positive for swine flu - its first case. |
| Precautions being taken in the UK include enhanced airport checks, an expansion of anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, the ordering of extra face masks and delivery of information leaflets for every family. | Precautions being taken in the UK include enhanced airport checks, an expansion of anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, the ordering of extra face masks and delivery of information leaflets for every family. |
| Supplies of antibiotics are to be increased to deal with any complications arising as a result of flu infections. | Supplies of antibiotics are to be increased to deal with any complications arising as a result of flu infections. |
| An advertising campaign to help prevent the spread of the virus has also been launched. | An advertising campaign to help prevent the spread of the virus has also been launched. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Meanwhile, the WHO has announced it will call the virus influenza A (H1N1), rather than swine flu, which it says is misleading as pork meat is safe and the virus is being transmitted from human to human. | Meanwhile, the WHO has announced it will call the virus influenza A (H1N1), rather than swine flu, which it says is misleading as pork meat is safe and the virus is being transmitted from human to human. |
| 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. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| An advertising campaign urges people to catch the sneeze before binning the tissue | An advertising campaign urges people to catch the sneeze before binning the tissue |
| 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 & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |