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Seven swine flu cases confirmed | Seven swine flu cases confirmed |
(30 minutes later) | |
Seven new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Britain. | Seven new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Britain. |
Four schoolchildren in London and three people in the Greenock area of Scotland are suffering from the virus, taking the number of UK cases to 85. | |
The UK government has signed a deal to secure up to 90 million doses of a new H1N1 flu vaccine by December. | |
Meanwhile the number of confirmed swine flu cases worldwide has risen by more than 1,000 in 24 hours to reach a total of 7,520. Sixty five people have died. | Meanwhile the number of confirmed swine flu cases worldwide has risen by more than 1,000 in 24 hours to reach a total of 7,520. Sixty five people have died. |
In the UK, the four cases in England were children in London who were linked to previously confirmed cases. | |
The new confirmed cases in Scotland were a mother and her five-year-old son, plus a 16-year-old girl. | |
See a map of confirmed UK cases | |
All three had been among five "probable" cases that led to a nursery and primary school being closed in Greenock, as a precaution, on Tuesday. Test results are still being awaited for another mother and her three-year-old child. | |
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the three patients were all experiencing mild symptoms, and were not giving cause for clinical concern. | |
Unlicensed websites | |
Meanwhile the UK government deal on vaccines will speed up access to the vaccine - which will be available regardless of whether a pandemic is officially declared - said Health Secretary Alan Johnson. | |
He said Baxter and GlaxoSmithKline would begin production of the vaccine - which would provide immunity from the virus - as soon as possible. | |
Agreements had already been in place to ensure two doses of vaccine for each person in the UK - but that contract would only have kicked in once a pandemic was under way. | |
If people do want to buy medicines over the internet, we urge them to consult their GP first Department of Health | |
The updated deal means the 90m doses will be available as soon as they are ready, regardless of whether the World Health Organization has declared a global pandemic, known as Phase 6. | |
Meanwhile warnings have been issued about unlicensed websites selling the antiviral drug Tamiflu to worried members of the public. | |
In the UK, the government has secured 50m doses of Tamiflu and the alternative antiviral drug Relenza. Unlike vaccines, which are preventative, antivirals are used to treat the virus once it is already present. | |
A spokesman for the Department of Health said the 50m doses were enough antivirals to cover 80% of the population and those who needed them would get them. | |
"If people do want to buy medicines over the internet, we urge them to consult their GP first and ensure that the website is operated from a registered pharmacy premises." | |
Mr Johnson said the localised cases of swine flu in the UK had so far been mild. | |
"Our strategy of containing the spread with antivirals appears to have been effective in reducing symptoms and preventing further spread of infection." | |
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