Youth in hospital as two new cases of swine flu suspected

Published on Friday 8 May 2009 22:11

A TEENAGER suspected of having swine flu was in hospital last night, as two more likely cases of the virus emerged in Scotland.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced the new "probable" cases as a further five people – including four children – were confirmed with the H1N1 infection in England, taking the UK total of confirmed cases to 39.

All the new confirmed cases are linked to the independent Alleyn's School in Dulwich, London, which has been closed as a result of six pupils previously being diagnosed.

Ms Sturgeon said the 19-year-old, from Greenock, was in Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow with a chest infection. He is suspected of picking up the virus from his father, who works offshore in Mexico.

The second probable case in Scotland involves a man who travelled back to Edinburgh from Las Vegas.

Ms Sturgeon said contacts of the two cases were being traced, while hospitals awaited final test results. Nine other possible cases in Scotland are still being investigated.

Ms Sturgeon said test results suggested the teenager was a "likely positive". His father returned from Mexico on 1 April and left again on the 26th. He had cold-like symptoms while in the UK, but is now back in Mexico and is thought to have recovered.

His son came forward on Thursday and was admitted to hospital. Ms Sturgeon said his symptoms were not giving cause for clinical concern.

Harry Burns, Scotland's chief medical officer, said the offshore worker had told health officials some people in his contact group in Mexico had been displaying similar cold-like symptoms in April. Another contact of the father is being investigated for possible infection.

Dr Burns said: "It adds evidence to the notion that this virus has been doing the rounds in Mexico long before anyone identified it."

The second probable case is a man from the Lothians who returned to Edinburgh from Las Vegas, via New York, on 1 May. He started suffering symptoms once back home. His wife, who was on the same flight, is also showing symptoms but has not had any test results.

Yesterday, Health Secretary Alan Johnson revealed Health Protection Agency scientists had worked out the genetic fingerprint of the virus, which will help them to identify the parts that can be used to make a vaccine.

Meanwhile, officials in the United States warned against deliberately trying to get infected with swine flu as protection against a possible future, more virulent strain. The advice came following ideas mooted on the internet about holding "swine flu parties".

Last night, officials in Canada confirmed a woman in her 30s from northern Alberta had died of swine flu. She had not travelled recently but had other medical conditions, officials said. It is the first death from swine flu in Canada.

DRUG HAS LONGER SHELF LIFE

TAMIFLU'S five-year shelf life can be extended by two years, medical experts have said.

The advice from the European Medicines Agency is likely to be approved speedily by the European Commission, and will apply to all newly-manufactured Tamiflu capsules.

The London-based agency has also advised the five-year expiry date on Tamiflu capsules can be ignored, during a pandemic.

"In view of the recent outbreak of the influenza A/H1N1 virus, the European Medicines Agency has also reviewed ways to use Tamiflu capsules in case of a shortage," it said in a statement.

"The Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recommended that Tamiflu capsules may be used for up to two more years after their current five-year expiry date during a declared pandemic.

"Patients who have Tamiflu capsules that have recently expired should not dispose of them because they might be needed during a influenza A/H1N1 pandemic."

The statement said both suggestions resulted from a study of how to prevent shortages of antiviral medicines such as Tamiflu, which were key in managing flu pandemics.