Swine flu couple released from hospital

Published on Thursday 30 April 2009 14:10

THE first Britons confirmed with swine flu have been released from hospital and are "very well", Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond said today.

Iain and Dawn Askham were being treated in an isolation ward after falling ill following their honeymoon in Mexico.

News of their release came as Mr Salmond confirmed a further "probable" case of swine flu had emerged in Scotland.

He told MSPs the new case in Glasgow is of someone with travel links to an affected area.

Further detailed testing is being carried out on the person to establish whether it is the full strain of the virus.

There are now 27 suspected cases in Scotland where people are showing symptoms, Mr Salmond said at First Minister's Questions.

Another 41 people – including 10 with close contacts to Iain and Dawn Askham – have so far been cleared after showing symptoms.

Mr Salmond said the couple from Polmont, near Falkirk, had been released from Monklands Hospital in Lanarkshire, where they had been treated in an isolation ward.

He told MSPs: "The couple who tested positive, Iain and Dawn Askham, have now been released from Monklands Hospital and are very well indeed."

Two more people who have been in close contact with Mr and Mrs Askham are now being tested.

The probable case in Glasgow is unconnected with the Askhams, who are thought to have contracted the virus on their honeymoon in Mexico.

MSPs were told a probable case was one that tested positive for Type A flu – but not yet for swine flu.

Mr Salmond updated MSPs on the situation in Scotland when he faced questions from Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray.

The First Minister told MSPs there were still only two confirmed positive cases of swine flu.

Mr Salmond went on: "Within the last 24 hours, a further 19 travel-related possible cases have been identified and 24 possible cases have been cleared by testing.

"There is also one travel-related case, unrelated to the confirmed two cases, one in Glasgow, which we now consider as a probable case."

The First Minister said: "That means a total 27 suspected cases are now under investigation.

"It is a fast-moving situation but the summary as of now is that there remain two confirmed cases, there are 27 cases under investigation, and the total number of people who have been cleared by testing is 41."