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/scotland/8049583.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fifth 'probable' swine flu case | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A fifth "probable" case of swine flu is being investigated in Greenock, Inverclyde, health officials have confirmed. | |
| The woman involved is the mother of a three-year-old nursery pupil already suspected to have the virus. | |
| The nursery and a primary school were closed in the town on Tuesday as a precaution. | |
| A five-year-old pupil at the primary school and his mother are among the other "probable" cases. | |
| Scotland hopes to stockpile enough supplies of any new swine flu vaccine to protect the entire population. | Scotland hopes to stockpile enough supplies of any new swine flu vaccine to protect the entire population. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement when she updated MSPs on the Scottish Government's efforts to combat the virus. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement when she updated MSPs on the Scottish Government's efforts to combat the virus. |
| I have decided, in discussion with the health ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to secure and purchase early supplies of vaccine Nicola SturgeonHealth secretary | |
| Ms Sturgeon said scientists had successfully identified the genetic fingerprint of the European strain of swine flu. | Ms Sturgeon said scientists had successfully identified the genetic fingerprint of the European strain of swine flu. |
| This was a "crucial first step" in creating a vaccine, she said. | This was a "crucial first step" in creating a vaccine, she said. |
| Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood that she and her counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland aimed to secure enough supplies to allow vaccination of the entire UK population against swine flu. | Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood that she and her counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland aimed to secure enough supplies to allow vaccination of the entire UK population against swine flu. |
| The UK already has advance supply contracts in place for a pandemic vaccine, but this could only be triggered in certain circumstances - like the World Health Organisation declaring Phase 6 of a pandemic. | The UK already has advance supply contracts in place for a pandemic vaccine, but this could only be triggered in certain circumstances - like the World Health Organisation declaring Phase 6 of a pandemic. |
| "Obviously we do not know when or if these triggers will be reached," Ms Sturgeon said. | "Obviously we do not know when or if these triggers will be reached," Ms Sturgeon said. |
| "We do know that if we simply wait until then we risk losing the capacity manufacturers have available now which would allow us to build up a stockpile and get a vaccination programme under way before the winter. | "We do know that if we simply wait until then we risk losing the capacity manufacturers have available now which would allow us to build up a stockpile and get a vaccination programme under way before the winter. |
| "I can therefore advise parliament that I have decided, in discussion with the health ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to secure and purchase early supplies of vaccine." | "I can therefore advise parliament that I have decided, in discussion with the health ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to secure and purchase early supplies of vaccine." |
| 'Priority groups' | |
| She added that negotiations were ongoing with manufacturers, and that it was hoped a contract and delivery schedule would be agreed very soon. | She added that negotiations were ongoing with manufacturers, and that it was hoped a contract and delivery schedule would be agreed very soon. |
| Ms Sturgeon said that by the time a pandemic was declared, global demand for a vaccine would outstrip the capacity to supply it. | Ms Sturgeon said that by the time a pandemic was declared, global demand for a vaccine would outstrip the capacity to supply it. |
| "Under any scenario and even after our sleeping contracts kick in, it will be a number of months before we get supplies sufficient for 100% of the population," she said. | "Under any scenario and even after our sleeping contracts kick in, it will be a number of months before we get supplies sufficient for 100% of the population," she said. |
| "The decision that we have taken now to utilise spare manufacturing capacity is therefore important in seeking to secure an early supply to allow a vaccination programme - focused initially on priority groups - to get under way as quickly as possible." | "The decision that we have taken now to utilise spare manufacturing capacity is therefore important in seeking to secure an early supply to allow a vaccination programme - focused initially on priority groups - to get under way as quickly as possible." |
| Northern Ireland confirmed its first swine flu case on Thursday, bringing the UK total to 72, including five in Scotland. | Northern Ireland confirmed its first swine flu case on Thursday, bringing the UK total to 72, including five in Scotland. |
| A further five people in Greenock, including the five-year-old boy at Ravenscraig Primary and three-year-old Ladybird nursery pupil and their mothers, are being treated as "probable" cases. | |
| None of the cases are said to be giving clinical cause for concern. |