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| UK swine flu 'is being contained' | UK swine flu 'is being contained' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Swine flu in the UK is being confined, contained and treated effectively, Health Secretary Alan Johnson has said. | Swine flu in the UK is being confined, contained and treated effectively, Health Secretary Alan Johnson has said. |
| However Mr Johnson said it was likely there would still be more cases and there was the possibility of a second wave in the autumn or winter. | However Mr Johnson said it was likely there would still be more cases and there was the possibility of a second wave in the autumn or winter. |
| The advice was followed by news that the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK has risen to 18. | |
| The latest confirmed cases include a man from Ayrshire, Scotland, thought to have picked up the virus in Texas. | |
| The newest confirmed cases come as health chiefs await the results of more than 600 tests for the disease. | |
| 'Second phase' | 'Second phase' |
| Mr Johnson earlier told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: "The message is, have a good bank holiday weekend - relax, keep calm and carry on." | Mr Johnson earlier told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: "The message is, have a good bank holiday weekend - relax, keep calm and carry on." |
| But Mr Johnson added: "So far - because we've managed to get to people to isolate it, we've got the stock of anti-virals for them and their families and the people they have met - I think it's contained. | But Mr Johnson added: "So far - because we've managed to get to people to isolate it, we've got the stock of anti-virals for them and their families and the people they have met - I think it's contained. |
| "There will be more cases... [it] will go up, there's absolutely no doubt of that, but at the moment all the evidence is we can confine it, contain it and treat it effectively. | "There will be more cases... [it] will go up, there's absolutely no doubt of that, but at the moment all the evidence is we can confine it, contain it and treat it effectively. |
| We have to not just deal with this outbreak now but prepare perhaps for a second phase Alan Johnson, health secretary Fourth Scots swine flu confirmed Swine flu man 'attended concert' | We have to not just deal with this outbreak now but prepare perhaps for a second phase Alan Johnson, health secretary Fourth Scots swine flu confirmed Swine flu man 'attended concert' |
| "It's the advice that comes from the Second World War once again - 'catch it, bin it, kill it' - it's good personal hygiene." | "It's the advice that comes from the Second World War once again - 'catch it, bin it, kill it' - it's good personal hygiene." |
| And Mr Johnson said that although the virus was being dealt with effectively, it had not been fully understood. | And Mr Johnson said that although the virus was being dealt with effectively, it had not been fully understood. |
| "This is a new virus, it's never been seen before. People talk about Sars and bird flu, and that was never the subject of a WHO alert, and we are now at stage five of an alert. | "This is a new virus, it's never been seen before. People talk about Sars and bird flu, and that was never the subject of a WHO alert, and we are now at stage five of an alert. |
| "Our evidence from all previous pandemics is you get two phases. So you get a first wave which is often very mild and then you get a much more serious wave that comes along in the autumn and the winter. | "Our evidence from all previous pandemics is you get two phases. So you get a first wave which is often very mild and then you get a much more serious wave that comes along in the autumn and the winter. |
| 'Smouldering in schools' | 'Smouldering in schools' |
| "So we have to not just deal with this outbreak now but prepare perhaps for a second phase further down the line." | "So we have to not just deal with this outbreak now but prepare perhaps for a second phase further down the line." |
| The view that an initial, often mild, outbreak can be followed by a much more serious wave in the winter, was endorsed by Professor John Oxford, a virologist at Queen Mary's School of Medicine in London. | The view that an initial, often mild, outbreak can be followed by a much more serious wave in the winter, was endorsed by Professor John Oxford, a virologist at Queen Mary's School of Medicine in London. |
| Prof Oxford told the BBC: "I think this virus could smoulder around, particularly in children and schools for example, over the next few weeks. | Prof Oxford told the BBC: "I think this virus could smoulder around, particularly in children and schools for example, over the next few weeks. |
| "Then we would be over a little hump, and then we would start to see odd cases up until Christmas, then I think the crucial time comes - is it going to become something big?" | "Then we would be over a little hump, and then we would start to see odd cases up until Christmas, then I think the crucial time comes - is it going to become something big?" |
| 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 two new cases confirmed in the UK on Saturday were both in England, involving an adult in Merseyside - the husband of a woman already diagnosed - and a six-year-old girl in Oxfordshire. | The two new cases confirmed in the UK on Saturday were both in England, involving an adult in Merseyside - the husband of a woman already diagnosed - and a six-year-old girl in Oxfordshire. |
| The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said both new cases had visited Mexico. The Merseyside couple were being treated at home and were "quite well", they added. | The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said both new cases had visited Mexico. The Merseyside couple were being treated at home and were "quite well", they added. |
| The HPA also said the girl had not exhibited symptoms while attending school, meaning school closure was not necessary. | The HPA also said the girl had not exhibited symptoms while attending school, meaning school closure was not necessary. |
| The increase in confirmed numbers came after news of the first two cases of Britons falling ill without having travelled to Mexico. | The increase in confirmed numbers came after news of the first two cases of Britons falling ill without having travelled to Mexico. |
| Barry Greatorex, 43, from South Gloucestershire, had been in contact with a traveller to the country. | Barry Greatorex, 43, from South Gloucestershire, had been in contact with a traveller to the country. |
| And Graeme Pacitti of Falkirk was infected through contact with the first British people to develop the flu. | And Graeme Pacitti of Falkirk was infected through contact with the first British people to develop the flu. |
| Mild symptoms | Mild symptoms |
| It has also emerged that one of the first two people to be diagnosed with swine flu in the UK had attended a rock concert days before he was diagnosed. | It has also emerged that one of the first two people to be diagnosed with swine flu in the UK had attended a rock concert days before he was diagnosed. |
| Iain Askham, from Polmont near Falkirk, was among the crowd at the 1,500-capacity Picture House to see rock band Doves on 23 April, two days after he returned from his honeymoon in Mexico. | Iain Askham, from Polmont near Falkirk, was among the crowd at the 1,500-capacity Picture House to see rock band Doves on 23 April, two days after he returned from his honeymoon in Mexico. |
| The Scottish government said this would not be classed as "close contact". | The Scottish government said this would not be classed as "close contact". |
| And the Health Protection Agency said the two cases of people who fell ill without having travelled to Mexico did "not yet represent sustained human-to-human transmission". | And the Health Protection Agency said the two cases of people who fell ill without having travelled to Mexico did "not yet represent sustained human-to-human transmission". |
| "All patients had contact with individuals who had reported illness and travel history to Mexico." | "All patients had contact with individuals who had reported illness and travel history to Mexico." |
| Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu. | Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu. |
| The HPA said all those in the UK who have contracted the disease appear to be suffering mild symptoms. | The HPA said all those in the UK who have contracted the disease appear to be suffering mild symptoms. |
| In cases outside Mexico - where officials have revised the number of suspected deaths from 176 to 101 - the effects do not appear to be severe, although the death of a Mexican child has been confirmed in the US. | In cases outside Mexico - where officials have revised the number of suspected deaths from 176 to 101 - the effects do not appear to be severe, although the death of a Mexican child has been confirmed in the US. |
| Information leaflets about how to reduce the chances of spreading infection are due to begin arriving in people's homes from next Tuesday. | Information leaflets about how to reduce the chances of spreading infection are due to begin arriving in people's homes from next Tuesday. |
| The only destination the government is telling travellers to avoid as a result of the outbreak is Mexico. | The only destination the government is telling travellers to avoid as a result of the outbreak is Mexico. |
| Members of the public can call 0800 1513513 for recorded information about swine flu. The number for NHS 24 in Scotland is 08454 24 24 24. | Members of the public can call 0800 1513513 for recorded information about swine flu. The number for NHS 24 in Scotland is 08454 24 24 24. |
| Have you or has anyone you know been tested for swine flu? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: | Have you or has anyone you know been tested for swine flu? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
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