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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| UK swine flu cases pass 900 mark | UK swine flu cases pass 900 mark |
| (30 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: "We recognised from the outset that we would be unlikely to prevent a widespread outbreak indefinitely." | He said: "We recognised from the outset that we would be unlikely to prevent a widespread outbreak indefinitely." |
| The UK had enough anti-viral drugs for 50% of the population and planned to raise that figure to 80%, he added. | The UK had enough anti-viral drugs for 50% of the population and planned to raise that figure to 80%, he added. |
| Mr Burnham said people should not change their day to day behaviour and follow hand hygiene guidelines. | Mr Burnham said people should not change their day to day behaviour and follow hand hygiene guidelines. |
| The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic following a sharp increase in the number of cases in Australia. | The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic following a sharp increase in the number of cases in Australia. |
| 'No surprise' | |
| 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. | 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." | "This is characterised by an increased number of sporadic cases. That is cases with no identifiable link with other confirmed cases." |
| 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. |
| Health minister Andy Burnham: "We now have enough anti-virals to treat half the UK population" | |
| 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 | 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." | 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. | The government has also ordered 226m face masks, 34m respirators and 15.2m courses of antibiotics. |
| Mr Burnham also said there were no immediate plans for widespread closures of schools. | |
| He said: "Obviously, there may be circumstances where the Health Protection Agency consider it necessary to advise school closures because that may help with local containment of the disease." | |
| Meanwhile, shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley praised the work of those involved in tackling the outbreak and called for more effort to help poorer countries. | |
| 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. |