Swine fever confirmed in visitor to Scotland

Published on Saturday 30 May 2009 19:48

A FURTHER case of swine flu was confirmed in Scotland yesterday, bringing the total number of UK cases to 229.

Scotland so far has 17 confirmed cases, eight probable cases and 16 possible cases of the H1N1 virus.

The newly confirmed case is a traveller from the United States who was a known probable case in Edinburgh. He was ill with the infection on his flight and yesterday health officials said his fellow passengers have been followed up.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "This is clearly a difficult time for this man and his wife. However, I would once again stress that the risk to the general public remains low.

"We must also remain vigilant as we continue to limit the spread of the virus and I would encourage people to continue to adopt simple hygiene precautions."

Three new probable cases under investigation yesterday were non-travel related cases from Lothian and the Highlands. Other new cases have emerged in London, the Midlands and Yorkshire.

A number of schools, including Eton, have been forced to close because of the disease in recent weeks. Annette Street primary school in Glasgow, which has about 400 pupils, has shut its doors for seven days as a "precautionary move" after a pupil showed signs of the H1N1 virus.

UK scientists have now produced a strain of the swine flu virus that is more suitable for making a vaccine.

The move was a "crucial step" towards the large-scale production of a vaccine against the disease, the HPA said.

The virus strain was developed at the HPA's National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), based near Potters Bar in Hertfordshire.

Both Lebanon and Cyprus yesterday confirmed their first cases of swine flu. Mexico reported two further deaths, bringing the country's death toll to 97.