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/8028974.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| Tests confirm flu transfer in UK | Tests confirm flu transfer in UK |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| An NHS clerical worker has become the first person in the UK to contract swine flu without having visited Mexico, tests have confirmed. | An NHS clerical worker has become the first person in the UK to contract swine flu without having visited Mexico, tests have confirmed. |
| Graeme Pacitti, 24, of Falkirk, picked up the virus after contact with the UK's first cases, Iain and Dawn Askham. | Graeme Pacitti, 24, of Falkirk, picked up the virus after contact with the UK's first cases, Iain and Dawn Askham. |
| Meanwhile, two more cases of swine flu in the UK have been confirmed, bringing the total to 11. | Meanwhile, two more cases of swine flu in the UK have been confirmed, bringing the total to 11. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are now more than 300 confirmed cases of the virus globally. | The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are now more than 300 confirmed cases of the virus globally. |
| A total of 642 possible cases are being investigated in the UK. | A total of 642 possible cases are being investigated in the UK. |
| The Health Protection Agency said the latest confirmed UK cases were a woman from the Merseyside who recently returned from Mexico, and a person in south west England. | The Health Protection Agency said the latest confirmed UK cases were a woman from the Merseyside who recently returned from Mexico, and a person in south west England. |
| Earlier on Friday, a school in Bristol said one of its pupils - an 11-year-old girl - had contracted the virus, but that the child was at home and was feeling well. | |
| But the school, in Downend, will be closed until 11 May and parents have been told to contact their family doctor if any child shows symptoms. | But the school, in Downend, will be closed until 11 May and parents have been told to contact their family doctor if any child shows symptoms. |
| Another school in Paignton, Devon, also closed its doors this week after it was confirmed a 12-year-old girl had contracted swine flu. | Another school in Paignton, Devon, also closed its doors this week after it was confirmed a 12-year-old girl had contracted swine flu. |
| Following confirmation that Mr Pacitti caught swine-flu in the UK, experts warned it was "inevitable" that more people will fall ill through "onward transmission", as has already happened in the US, Canada, Spain and Germany. | Following confirmation that Mr Pacitti caught swine-flu in the UK, experts warned it was "inevitable" that more people will fall ill through "onward transmission", as has already happened in the US, Canada, Spain and Germany. |
| Scotland's chief medical officer Dr Harry Burns said: "What we will do is try and mitigate the rate of spread but it's inevitable that we're going to see more cases." | Scotland's chief medical officer Dr Harry Burns said: "What we will do is try and mitigate the rate of spread but it's inevitable that we're going to see more cases." |
| Mr Pacitti himself told the BBC he was really disappointed" to find out he had contracted the illness. | Mr Pacitti himself told the BBC he was really disappointed" to find out he had contracted the illness. |
| He plays in the same six-a-side football team as the UK's first swine-flu patient Iain Askham. | He plays in the same six-a-side football team as the UK's first swine-flu patient Iain Askham. |
| He said he had been given the anti-viral drug Tamiflu as a precaution after meeting him in a pub. | He said he had been given the anti-viral drug Tamiflu as a precaution after meeting him in a pub. |
| Now confined to home, Mr Pacitti said by telephone: "Today I started to feel better than I have done all week. I'm quite gutted. | Now confined to home, Mr Pacitti said by telephone: "Today I started to feel better than I have done all week. I'm quite gutted. |
| "It started last Saturday when I started to feel like I had an upset stomach. From then my throat began to get sore. | "It started last Saturday when I started to feel like I had an upset stomach. From then my throat began to get sore. |
| "The worst was when I started to get headaches and feel quite feverish." | "The worst was when I started to get headaches and feel quite feverish." |
| Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Pacitti's infection was a "significant development" but that the risk to public health remained low. | Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Pacitti's infection was a "significant development" but that the risk to public health remained low. |
| CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 168 suspected deaths, 12 confirmedUS: one death, at least 109 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 4 confirmed, 12 probable casesCanada: 35 confirmed casesSpain: 13 confirmed casesUK: 11 confirmed casesGermany: 4 confirmed casesFrance, Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases eachThe Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong: 1 confirmed case each How the UK is trying to contain flu Mapping the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences | |
| "It is concerning but I have to stress that it doesn't mean there's more reason for people to worry," she said. | "It is concerning but I have to stress that it doesn't mean there's more reason for people to worry," she said. |
| "We are still very much in the containment phase of this infection." | "We are still very much in the containment phase of this infection." |
| Of the 11 UK cases confirmed so far, all are thought to have responded well to treatment. | Of the 11 UK cases confirmed so far, all are thought to have responded well to treatment. |
| Prime Minster Gordon Brown, who was visiting an NHS Direct centre in Beckenham, south-east London, said the UK was in a good position to cope with the illness . | Prime Minster Gordon Brown, who was visiting an NHS Direct centre in Beckenham, south-east London, said the UK was in a good position to cope with the illness . |
| Quick treatment | Quick treatment |
| "There will be more cases, but at the same time it is treatable," he said. | "There will be more cases, but at the same time it is treatable," he said. |
| "If we can get to people quickly, we can trace their contacts and if we can give those affected Tamiflu [anti-viral drug], then we can avoid the problems that we see in some of the other countries," he said. | "If we can get to people quickly, we can trace their contacts and if we can give those affected Tamiflu [anti-viral drug], then we can avoid the problems that we see in some of the other countries," he said. |
| Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, has said it is impossible to predict how many deaths there could be in the UK until more was known about the virus strain. | Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, has said it is impossible to predict how many deaths there could be in the UK until more was known about the virus strain. |
| BBC News health correspondent Jane Hughes says the spread of the virus might not take off until the autumn and the winter when people's resistance is lower. | BBC News health correspondent Jane Hughes says the spread of the virus might not take off until the autumn and the winter when people's resistance is lower. |
| SWINE FLU ADVICE Use clean tissues when you cough or sneeze Bin 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 sneeze Bin 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 |
| Precautions being taken in the UK include 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 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. |
| 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 |