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UK swine flu cases pass 900 mark UK swine flu cases pass 900 mark
(20 minutes later)
The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK has reached 909, Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said.The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK has reached 909, Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said.
In a statement to the Commons, Mr Burnham said 28 people had been admitted to hospital and that most of those had made a full recovery.In a statement to the Commons, Mr Burnham said 28 people had been admitted to hospital and that most of those had made a full recovery.
He said the UK had enough anti-viral drugs for 50% of the population and planned to raise that figure to 80%. He said: "We recognised from the outset that we would be unlikely to prevent a widespread outbreak indefinitely."
People should not change their day to day behaviour and follow hand hygiene guidelines, Mr Burnham added. The UK had enough anti-viral drugs for 50% of the population and planned to raise that figure to 80%, he added.
Ministers have urged the public not to panic after the World Health Organization declared a pandemic following a sharp increase in the number of cases in Australia. Mr Burnham said people should not change their day to day behaviour and follow hand hygiene guidelines.
Mr Burnham said there had been "significant increases" in the daily number of cases in certain parts of the UK, particularly Scotland. The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic following a sharp increase in the number of cases in Australia.
Mr Burnham said: "In recent days there have been significant increases in the daily number of cases in certain parts of the UK - most notably Scotland where Health Protection Scotland has concluded that sustained community transmission appears to be taking place.
"This is characterised by an increased number of sporadic cases. That is cases with no identifiable link with other confirmed cases."
Global effortGlobal effort
But he said the rise came as "no surprise" and was in line with what ministers knew about similar outbreaks.But he said the rise came as "no surprise" and was in line with what ministers knew about similar outbreaks.
He said it was vital that the global community worked together and stated that the government had set aside a further £6m to help the international response He said it was vital that the global community worked together and stated that the government had set aside a further £6m to help the international response.
Mr Burnham said that at some point the focus would need to move from limiting the spread of a localised virus, to "mitigating the effects of a widespread virus".Mr Burnham said that at some point the focus would need to move from limiting the spread of a localised virus, to "mitigating the effects of a widespread virus".
He said: "That point has not been reached yet."He said: "That point has not been reached yet."
Infection
Mr Burnham added: "We have advance purchase agreements which enable the UK to purchase up to 132 million doses of pandemic-specific vaccine - enough for two doses for 100% of the population, should this be necessary."
The government has also ordered 226m face masks, 34m respirators and 15.2m courses of antibiotics.
Pandemic status means the infection is spreading in at least two regions of the world.Pandemic status means the infection is spreading in at least two regions of the world.
While the virus originated in Mexico in April, it has since spread to 74 countries, infected nearly 30,000 people and caused 141 deaths.While the virus originated in Mexico in April, it has since spread to 74 countries, infected nearly 30,000 people and caused 141 deaths.