Swine flu risk 'low' - Sturgeon

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Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has stressed that the risk to public health in Scotland from swine flu remains low.

Her comments came as a man from Falkirk was confirmed as the first person to have contracted the disease through contact in the UK.

Graeme Pacitti, 24, is a friend of Iain and Dawn Askham, the couple who became infected during a holiday in Mexico.

One of Scotland's largest cultural events is expected to go ahead in Falkirk this weekend.

More than 100,000 people are expected at Callendar Park for Big in Falkirk - Scotland's national street arts festival.

There have been no moves to curtail major public gatherings despite confirmation that Mr Pacitti contracted the H1N1 strain without travelling to Mexico, where the outbreak began.

Mexico has started a five-day shutdown of parts of its economy in a bid to curb the virus's progress.

Officials said the spread of swine flu there - suspected in more than 160 deaths - was slowing, but international experts were more cautious.

There is still no evidence beyond this individual that this infection is prevalent in the wider community Nicola SturgeonHealth secretary

Scotland's health secretary agreed that the case of Mr Pacitti, a clerical worker at Falkirk Royal Infirmary, was "significant and concerning".

But Ms Sturgeon said that did not mean there was more reason for people to worry.

She said: "While the circumstances surrounding this case do give cause for concern, it is important to stress that the risk to public health in Scotland remains low."

"There is still no evidence beyond this individual that this infection is prevalent in the wider community."

She said 29 possible cases of swine flu were now being investigated in Scotland.

A total of 13 cases have now been confirmed in the UK, three of them in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Our advice remains, if you have been to Mexico or another affected area recently, if you are feeling symptomatic, or are symptomatic and have been in contact with somebody who has been to one of these areas, you should seek medical advice through NHS24."

Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Harry Burns, said there was too little information at present to be able to comment on the rate of spread of infection.

"There are only three proven cases in Scotland, and a slightly higher figure in England," he said.

"Typically, epidemiologists will say you need 100-plus to make any kind of judgment and we are a bit away from that in the UK.

"I think good information will probably come first from the US because they have far more cases and good surveillance systems and they will be able to give the world better information of the rate of spread."

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