Swine Flu Cases Rise Above 1,000

The number of swine flu cases in the UK has risen above the 1,000 mark but the Health Secretary has said people “should not panic” over the pandemic.

A further 67 patients in England were confirmed with the virus on Saturday, bringing the UK total to 1,121, health officials said.

There have now been 691 cases confirmed in England, 420 in Scotland, seven in Northern Ireland and three in Wales, according to the Health Protection Agency.

Of the new cases announced today, 47 were in the West Midlands, where 299 people have now been affected. Another 682 possible UK cases are under investigation.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said on Friday that 28 people have been admitted to hospital but the majority had made a “full and fast” recovery.

He told MPs there has been “significant increases” in recent days in the number of new cases in certain parts of the UK, most notably Scotland.

But he said the UK was well-prepared for dealing with a pandemic.

Around 30,000 cases of swine flu have been detected in 74 countries and 145 people have died worldwide.

Mr Burnham said: “We have been monitoring our domestic response continually and the formal declaration of a pandemic shouldn’t affect people’s day-to-day business, and it does not affect our assessment of how the virus is behaving in this country.

“It’s important to stress that the majority of cases in the UK so far have not been severe, with those catching the virus making a full and fast recovery – though a small minority of cases have been more serious.”

At present, the UK has enough of the anti-viral Tamiflu to cover half of the population but orders are in place for 50 million doses – enough to cover 80 per cent.