http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090427/tuk-swine-flu-17-possible-cases-tested-i-45dbed5_1.html
Swine Flu: 17 Possible Cases Tested In UK
31 mins ago
SkyNews © Sky News 2009
* Print Story
A total of 17 people are being tested for swine flu in the UK, the Health Secretary has confirmed. Skip related content
Related photos / videos
Swine Flu: 17 Possible Cases Tested In UK Enlarge photo
Related content
* WHO says no travel restrictions; 40 'reported' flu cases in US
* UK prepares for deadly flu
* Avoid US and Mexico, Britons told
* Related Hot Topic: Swine Flu
Have your say: Swine Flu
Alan Johnson told the House of Commons that 25 possible cases had been reported, eight of which proved negative.
Three people are having specialist tests in hospital isolation wards after returning from recent visits to Mexico, where more than 100 people have died from swine flu.
The remaining 14 are undergoing initial investigation but were well enough to be managed in the community.
The Health Secretary acknowledged there was "trepidation and concern" across the world but insisted the UK has enough anti-viral medication to treat half the population in the event of a pandemic.
"The UK has been preparing for a flu pandemic for the last five years," he said.
"We have established a stockpile of enough antivirals to treat more than 33 million people, that is to say half of the UK population."
A Canadian woman has been admitted to hospital as a precaution, according to a statement from NHS North West.
Sky's North of England correspondent Mike McCarthy said: "The statement says an overseas visitor to Sale is being tested for possible swine flu and has been taken to hospital for tests.
"The hospital, in Manchester, is not being identified."
The woman is believed to have been visiting friends in Sale.
Two people were admitted to hospital in Airdrie, Scotland, to undergo tests after returning from Mexico.
Scotland's Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it had still to be confirmed whether or not the pair had contracted the deadly virus.
But she added: "They are not particularly ill and their symptoms are relatively mild. Their conditions are improving."
Sky's Scotland correspondent Rona Dougall said: "The couple are in an isolation unit being treated with antiviral drugs.
"The Scottish government says it's highly unlikely they have swine flu because the areas they travelled to in Mexico were not affected by the outbreak."
No cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Britain.
The Government's chief medical officer has warned that Britain will inevitably be hit by cases at some point.
Sir Liam Donaldson said plans were in place to prevent the spread of the disease if it reached the UK.
"I think it is inevitable that at some point we will have cases in the United Kingdom," he said.
"Hopefully, if we identify those early and treat people and their contacts, we might be able to reduce the spread."
Enhanced port health checks have been put in place to identify passengers arriving in the UK with symptoms of the illness.
Britons arriving back in the UK from Mexico have been questioned by a doctor before leaving the aircraft.
Mr Johnson said the NHS has a stockpile of more than £500m worth of the Tamiflu antiviral drug and scientists are working on developing a vaccine against the new strain.
He told MPs the Government was working with primary health care trusts to ensure arrangements for the distribution of antivirals were in place should this become necessary.
Senior government officials have been meeting to discuss the swine flu outbreak, a Cabinet Office spokesman said, although no ministers were attending.
The Health Protection Agency said it was keeping a close eye on the situation. There was currently a "very low level" of flu activity in the UK, it said.
To prevent the spread of illness, the HPA advised people to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to throw away dirty tissues promptly and carefully, and to wash hands and surfaces which are regularly touched.
Britons are not currently being advised to avoid travelling to affected areas of Mexico and the US, although anyone visiting those destinations or who has recently returned should consult a doctor if they experience flu-like symptoms.
Swine Flu: 17 Possible Cases Tested In UK
31 mins ago
SkyNews © Sky News 2009
* Print Story
A total of 17 people are being tested for swine flu in the UK, the Health Secretary has confirmed. Skip related content
Related photos / videos
Swine Flu: 17 Possible Cases Tested In UK Enlarge photo
Related content
* WHO says no travel restrictions; 40 'reported' flu cases in US
* UK prepares for deadly flu
* Avoid US and Mexico, Britons told
* Related Hot Topic: Swine Flu
Have your say: Swine Flu
Alan Johnson told the House of Commons that 25 possible cases had been reported, eight of which proved negative.
Three people are having specialist tests in hospital isolation wards after returning from recent visits to Mexico, where more than 100 people have died from swine flu.
The remaining 14 are undergoing initial investigation but were well enough to be managed in the community.
The Health Secretary acknowledged there was "trepidation and concern" across the world but insisted the UK has enough anti-viral medication to treat half the population in the event of a pandemic.
"The UK has been preparing for a flu pandemic for the last five years," he said.
"We have established a stockpile of enough antivirals to treat more than 33 million people, that is to say half of the UK population."
A Canadian woman has been admitted to hospital as a precaution, according to a statement from NHS North West.
Sky's North of England correspondent Mike McCarthy said: "The statement says an overseas visitor to Sale is being tested for possible swine flu and has been taken to hospital for tests.
"The hospital, in Manchester, is not being identified."
The woman is believed to have been visiting friends in Sale.
Two people were admitted to hospital in Airdrie, Scotland, to undergo tests after returning from Mexico.
Scotland's Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it had still to be confirmed whether or not the pair had contracted the deadly virus.
But she added: "They are not particularly ill and their symptoms are relatively mild. Their conditions are improving."
Sky's Scotland correspondent Rona Dougall said: "The couple are in an isolation unit being treated with antiviral drugs.
"The Scottish government says it's highly unlikely they have swine flu because the areas they travelled to in Mexico were not affected by the outbreak."
No cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Britain.
The Government's chief medical officer has warned that Britain will inevitably be hit by cases at some point.
Sir Liam Donaldson said plans were in place to prevent the spread of the disease if it reached the UK.
"I think it is inevitable that at some point we will have cases in the United Kingdom," he said.
"Hopefully, if we identify those early and treat people and their contacts, we might be able to reduce the spread."
Enhanced port health checks have been put in place to identify passengers arriving in the UK with symptoms of the illness.
Britons arriving back in the UK from Mexico have been questioned by a doctor before leaving the aircraft.
Mr Johnson said the NHS has a stockpile of more than £500m worth of the Tamiflu antiviral drug and scientists are working on developing a vaccine against the new strain.
He told MPs the Government was working with primary health care trusts to ensure arrangements for the distribution of antivirals were in place should this become necessary.
Senior government officials have been meeting to discuss the swine flu outbreak, a Cabinet Office spokesman said, although no ministers were attending.
The Health Protection Agency said it was keeping a close eye on the situation. There was currently a "very low level" of flu activity in the UK, it said.
To prevent the spread of illness, the HPA advised people to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to throw away dirty tissues promptly and carefully, and to wash hands and surfaces which are regularly touched.
Britons are not currently being advised to avoid travelling to affected areas of Mexico and the US, although anyone visiting those destinations or who has recently returned should consult a doctor if they experience flu-like symptoms.
