Labour's troubles mount as by-election candidate treated for suspected H1N1 virus

Published on Tuesday 21 July 2009 21:59

LABOUR'S candidate in the Norwich North by-election has been treated for suspected swine flu, it emerged yesterday.

A spokesman for the Norwich North Labour campaign said Chris Ostrowski was being treated as a suspected case of the virus.

"This was confirmed by doctors at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital after Chris felt unwell and was taken there earlier today," he said.

"He collapsed at home and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Chris is receiving world-class care from an excellent team of doctors, nurses and staff."

Mr Ostrowski was later released from hospital.

Labour is widely expected to lose tomorrow's contest, caused by the resignation of sitting MP Ian Gibson after the party's expenses panel excluded him from standing at the next election.

Tory candidate Chloe Smith is the favourite to take the seat, overturning Labour's 5,459 majority from the 2005 poll.

Ms Smith said in a statement: "I'm extremely sorry to hear that Chris has been taken ill this morning.

"I'd like to send Chris my best wishes and I hope he will make a speedy recovery."

Yesterday it also emerged that an MP had been treated for swine flu after he told his constituents about it on social networking website Twitter.

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish in Greater Manchester, was sent home from Westminster after showing symptoms last week and prescribed the antiviral medication Tamiflu.

Mr Gwynne said in a "tweet": "On Tamiflu now. Just put acute tiredness down 2 recess being near, then sore throat n hot sweats started not good."