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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Swine flu policy shift expected | Swine flu policy shift expected |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The government is set to signal a shift in policy in its fight against swine flu, the BBC understands. | The government is set to signal a shift in policy in its fight against swine flu, the BBC understands. |
| Health Secretary Andy Burnham will give a statement to the House of Commons later saying the UK will be moving to the "treatment phase". | Health Secretary Andy Burnham will give a statement to the House of Commons later saying the UK will be moving to the "treatment phase". |
| It means health officials will no longer test everyone with symptoms. | It means health officials will no longer test everyone with symptoms. |
| Instead, they will be told to stay at home while arrangements are made for them to get anti-viral drugs. It is not clear when these changes will kick in. | Instead, they will be told to stay at home while arrangements are made for them to get anti-viral drugs. It is not clear when these changes will kick in. |
| The impending move does not mean the pandemic virus is becoming more deadly, just that it can no longer be contained. | |
| Containment | |
| Some parts of the UK, including Birmingham, London and Glasgow, where there have been the largest outbreaks have already started doing this. | Some parts of the UK, including Birmingham, London and Glasgow, where there have been the largest outbreaks have already started doing this. |
| But most of the country has still been operating under what is known as the "containment" phase. | But most of the country has still been operating under what is known as the "containment" phase. |
| This involves people having swab tests taken by GPs or other health officials and their close contacts being chased up and offered drugs in a bid to stop it spreading. | This involves people having swab tests taken by GPs or other health officials and their close contacts being chased up and offered drugs in a bid to stop it spreading. |
| The shift has long been anticipated by health experts. | The shift has long been anticipated by health experts. |
| Last month Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson had said the containment phase had lasted much longer than the flu contingency plan had envisaged. | |
| There have been nearly 7,000 confirmed cases in the UK since the outbreak first started and three deaths. | |
| However, it is thought there will have been a number of people who did not get a formal diagnosis because their symptoms were so mild. | |
| What advice are you getting about swine flu? Do you feel the message is clear about what is happening and what to do? Let us know by filling in the form below. | What advice are you getting about swine flu? Do you feel the message is clear about what is happening and what to do? Let us know by filling in the form below. |
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