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| Swine flu cases soar in England | Swine flu cases soar in England |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The number of confirmed swine flu cases in England has jumped by nearly 20% in a single day, latest figures show. | The number of confirmed swine flu cases in England has jumped by nearly 20% in a single day, latest figures show. |
| The Health Protection Agency statistics show that 535 new cases were confirmed on Friday, bringing the total to 3,364. | The Health Protection Agency statistics show that 535 new cases were confirmed on Friday, bringing the total to 3,364. |
| Scotland registered another 72 cases on Friday, an 8.5% rise, bringing the total to 922, and a 25th case was confirmed in Northern Ireland. | |
| With 12 cases confirmed in Wales, the total number of confirmed UK cases now stands at 4,323. | With 12 cases confirmed in Wales, the total number of confirmed UK cases now stands at 4,323. |
| Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer for England, warned on Thursday that the UK could soon expect to see a surge of new cases. | Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer for England, warned on Thursday that the UK could soon expect to see a surge of new cases. |
| He predicted tens of thousands of cases of swine flu could be emerging each week by the autumn. | He predicted tens of thousands of cases of swine flu could be emerging each week by the autumn. |
| The West Midlands remains the most badly affected area of England, with 158 new cases confirmed on Friday, bringing the total to 1,516. | The West Midlands remains the most badly affected area of England, with 158 new cases confirmed on Friday, bringing the total to 1,516. |
| Some hospitals in that region have created triage areas to cope with complaints of symptoms. | Some hospitals in that region have created triage areas to cope with complaints of symptoms. |
| London is the other swine flu "hotspot" in England, recording 225 new cases on Friday, taking the total to 985. | London is the other swine flu "hotspot" in England, recording 225 new cases on Friday, taking the total to 985. |
| Change of policy | Change of policy |
| Officials in both areas announced on Thursday they had abandoned attempts to contain spread of the virus, instead opting for a policy of managing the outbreak. | Officials in both areas announced on Thursday they had abandoned attempts to contain spread of the virus, instead opting for a policy of managing the outbreak. |
| The containment policy involved trying to ring-fence outbreaks by tracing the people with whom confirmed cases have come into contact and giving them drugs to try to prevent flu developing. | The containment policy involved trying to ring-fence outbreaks by tracing the people with whom confirmed cases have come into contact and giving them drugs to try to prevent flu developing. |
| This approach has also involved the closure of several schools. | This approach has also involved the closure of several schools. |
| But once the virus starts to spread freely in a community that policy becomes impractical. | But once the virus starts to spread freely in a community that policy becomes impractical. |
| At this stage, anti-viral drugs are only given to those people showing symptoms, and tracing of contacts is abandoned. | At this stage, anti-viral drugs are only given to those people showing symptoms, and tracing of contacts is abandoned. |
| The practice of waiting for laboratory confirmation of new cases is also scrapped in favour of clinical diagnosis based on symptoms. | The practice of waiting for laboratory confirmation of new cases is also scrapped in favour of clinical diagnosis based on symptoms. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "The cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been generally mild in most people, but are proving to be severe in a small minority of cases. | A Department of Health spokesman said: "The cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been generally mild in most people, but are proving to be severe in a small minority of cases. |
| "We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease and to put in place arrangements to ensure that the UK is well-placed to deal with this new infection." | "We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease and to put in place arrangements to ensure that the UK is well-placed to deal with this new infection." |
| Sir Liam said on Thursday that the UK was likely to receive its first batches of swine flu vaccine in August, rather than in the autumn as first expected. | Sir Liam said on Thursday that the UK was likely to receive its first batches of swine flu vaccine in August, rather than in the autumn as first expected. |
| The government has contracts with two manufacturers for 132m doses - enough for the whole population. | The government has contracts with two manufacturers for 132m doses - enough for the whole population. |