Scots student one of six possible cases at Glastonbury music festival

Published on Sunday 28 June 2009 21:59

A STUDENT from Edinburgh University was among six possible cases of swine flu at the Glastonbury Festival.

The student was taken to isolation facilities to be given antiviral drugs before being sent home.

Another student, from Exeter and a ten-year-old child from a family of four, were among the other possible cases. None of the cases is thought to be linked.

Dr Chris Howes, the festival's medical services director, said: "We worked very closely with the Health Protection Agency and NHS Somerset in monitoring the situation.

"The cases of swine flu are suspected but not confirmed because formal testing takes longer, but we gave these patients anti-viral drugs.

"Everyone had mild symptoms and none required hospital admission. Everyone else was advised to continue with normal hygiene precautions, such as frequent hand washing."

Christo Hird, a festival spokesman, said the suspected cases were nothing for campers to be concerned about.

"This was anticipated. There is no more risk here than anywhere. The figure among 177,000 people is regarded as very low."

Festival-goers took the news calmly. Susan Monaghan, a 45-year-old gardener from Windsor, said: "I thought it was going to happen. It's not very serious anyway. If I was worried I wouldn't have come here."

The 400 medical staff on site treated a total of almost 3,000 people during the festival for a variety of minor injuries and illnesses.