Three new cases of swine flu confirmed in single day

Published on Friday 15 May 2009 22:05

THREE new cases of swine flu were confirmed in Scotland yesterday, including what could be the first instance of "community transmission".

A 45-year-old woman, her five-year-old son and a 16-year-old girl have all tested positive for the virus, the Scottish Government confirmed.

The cases are all in the Greenock area, where Ravenscraig Primary school and the nearby Ladybird nursery were closed earlier this week amid fears that swine flu was spreading among pupils. The five-year-old was a pupil at the school.

The circumstances surrounding the case of the teenager were continuing to be investigated yesterday. However, there is no obvious connection between her and the other confirmed or probable cases in Inverclyde.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said it was not a travel-related case. If no link emerges, the case will be the first here of community transmission, which has been taking place in Mexico and the US.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded nearly 6,500 officially confirmed cases of swine influenza A-H1N1 – including 65 deaths – from 33 countries. While this is serious, WHO says the disease has not yet become a pandemic.

The WHO has said it needs to see clear evidence of sustained community transmission of the virus from person to person in at least two regions of the world before it raises its alert to the phase-six pandemic level.

Yesterday's confirmations bring the total number of confirmed cases in Scotland to eight. Two other probable cases, involving a mother and her three-year-old child, are still being investigated. There a further 11 possible cases.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "Tests have now confirmed three further probable cases as positive for the H1N1 flu virus. All three people are experiencing mild symptoms and their clinical conditions are not giving cause for concern.

"While this level of person-to-person transmission remains very limited, it is important we continue to work to contain the virus and limit its spread."

Four cases were also confirmed among schoolchildren in London, bringing the total number of UK cases to 85.

It came as the Scottish Government confirmed the "first step" has been taken towards ensuring every person in the country will be covered by vaccines to immunise H151.

Under the deal signed by the UK government, some 90 million doses of the vaccine will be produced in an attempt to head off any possible pandemic. The Department of Health said the deal would "provide enough vaccine to protect the most vulnerable in our population before a pandemic is likely to arrive".

UK Health Secretary Alan Johnson said there was no cause for alarm, insisting localised cases of swine flu have so far been "mild."

The WHO yesterday urged countries to share swine flu samples, warning that the virus could become more severe as it spreads around the globe.