Three more swine flu cases in Britain, PM reveals

Published on Wednesday 29 April 2009 13:29

THREE further cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Britain, the Prime Minister told the Commons today.

Mr Brown said one was a 12-year-old girl from Torbay and the other two were adults – one from Birmingham, one from London.

The three come on top of the two previously identified in Scotland.

Mr Brown said all three had recently travelled from Mexico, had "mild symptoms" and were responding well to treatment.

The girl's school had been temporarily closed and all other pupils offered anti-viral drugs.

Mr Brown said the Government was taking "the preparations that are necessary and the precautions to prevent the incidence of this disease in this country".

Health Secretary Alan Johnson is to make a statement on the situation to the Commons tonight.

At question time, Mr Brown said: "In addition to those two members of the public who have contracted swine flu and are in the Monklands area, and who I understand are getting better, there are three further confirmed cases."

One – a 12-year-old girl from Torbay – and two adults from Birmingham and London.

"All of them have mild symptoms and are receiving and responding well to treatment.

"The school in which the 12-year-old is educated will close down for the time being and all the pupils will be offered the tamiflu anti-viral.

"I believe we are taking the preparations that are necessary and the precautions to prevent the incidence of this disease in this country.

"I can confirm that we have enhanced airport checks and confirm that we are advising people not to travel to Mexico unless necessary.

"We will continue to review that position.

"At the same time we have decided to built up stocks of anti-virals from 35 million to 50 million (doses).

"We are ordering a great deal more face masks. We will be sending out public information to all citizens in this country.

"By Tuesday there will be an information leaflet for every family.

"The WHO has said we are one of the best prepared countries. We intend to keep it that way and make sure that we do everything in our power to make sure people are safe from this worldwide flu."

Tory leader David Cameron welcomed the steps taken by the Government but asked when a national flu line would be operational.

Mr Cameron said he shared concerns over the cases of swine flu but asked: "The national flu line was supposed to be up and running already.

"But we're told it won't be operational until the autumn. Given the importance of making sure information is made available to people, can you tell us what the Government is doing to speed that up?"

Mr Brown said interim arrangements for the flu line were being made. It wasn't simply an information line.

"This is the availability and distribution of anti-virals to people in the country. Were that to be necessary, that will be done.

"The circumstances in which it will be used are not yet reached and we hope they will not be reached, but arrangements have been made.

"The Health Secretary will make a fuller statement this evening about these very issues."

Mr Cameron said that without a flu line there was a danger that NHS Direct could be "swamped" with calls.

"You said the Government is ordering more stocks of anti-virals. Currently they cover half the population. The Government has accepted it would be useful to have anti-virals not just for treatment but for prevention.

"Can you tell us the timescale for getting up to those figures and what percentage of the population would be covered."

He also asked for a timescale on the issue of face masks.

Mr Brown said the order for anti-virals was being increased from 35 million "that we now have" to 50 million.

"We feel we are well prepared at the moment. But it is right to increase the coverage of the population."

Mr Brown said "several million more" face masks were being ordered for NHS workers and would arrive over the next few days and weeks.

Mr Cameron said: "I'm sure at this time the whole country and the House will want to wish the staff of our NHS well in what may be difficult days ahead."

Mr Brown said staff did a "great job" and must be protected against swine flu.