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| Tests confirm flu transfer in UK | Tests confirm flu transfer in UK |
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| An NHS worker has become the first person in the UK to contract swine flu without having visited Mexico, tests have confirmed. | An NHS worker has become the first person in the UK to contract swine flu without having visited Mexico, tests have confirmed. |
| Clerical worker Graeme Pacitti, 24, picked up the virus after contact with newly-weds Iain and Dawn Askham, the Scottish government said. | |
| The couple, of Polmont, near Falkirk, were the first UK cases. | The couple, of Polmont, near Falkirk, were the first UK cases. |
| Meanwhile, the Health Protection Agency has confirmed a 10th UK case of the virus in Merseyside. | Meanwhile, the Health Protection Agency has confirmed a 10th UK case of the virus in Merseyside. |
| The person involved had recently returned from Mexico. | The person involved had recently returned from Mexico. |
| The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there are now more than 300 confirmed cases of swine flu, which has been reported in 14 countries across three continents. | The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there are now more than 300 confirmed cases of swine flu, which has been reported in 14 countries across three continents. |
| In Mexico, 168 deaths have been linked to swine flu and the government has confirmed 12 were attributable to the virus. Another person has died in the US. | In Mexico, 168 deaths have been linked to swine flu and the government has confirmed 12 were attributable to the virus. Another person has died in the US. |
| The Askhams believe they caught the virus on a flight back from their honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, during which other passengers were coughing and sneezing. | The Askhams believe they caught the virus on a flight back from their honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, during which other passengers were coughing and sneezing. |
| Mr Pacitti, a friend of Mr Askham who plays in the same six-a-side football team, picked up the virus after meeting him in a pub. | |
| He told the BBC on Friday he was "really disappointed" to find out he had contracted swine flu. | |
| "Today I started to feel better than I have done all week. I'm quite gutted. | |
| "It started last Saturday when I started to feel like I had an upset stomach. From then my throat began to get sore. | |
| "The worst was when I started to get headaches and feel quite feverish." | |
| His case represents the first of onward transmission of the virus within the UK. It has already happened in the US, Canada, Spain and Germany. | |
| Mr and Mrs Askham returned to their home on Thursday having been treated for five nights in separate isolation rooms at Monklands Hospital, Airdrie. | Mr and Mrs Askham returned to their home on Thursday having been treated for five nights in separate isolation rooms at Monklands Hospital, Airdrie. |
| Iain and Dawn Askham tested positive after their honeymoon in Mexico | Iain and Dawn Askham tested positive after their honeymoon in Mexico |
| The latest Britons to return from Mexico, about 300 people on a scheduled Thomas Cook flight, arrived at Gatwick on Friday morning. | The latest Britons to return from Mexico, about 300 people on a scheduled Thomas Cook flight, arrived at Gatwick on Friday morning. |
| Passengers told the BBC no one's temperature was taken - which differed from the screening process in the Mexican resort of Cancun. | Passengers told the BBC no one's temperature was taken - which differed from the screening process in the Mexican resort of Cancun. |
| However, government action plans for dealing with possible pandemics make clear there would be no screening at borders because it would not pick up people without symptoms who might develop them later. | However, government action plans for dealing with possible pandemics make clear there would be no screening at borders because it would not pick up people without symptoms who might develop them later. |
| Of the eight UK cases confirmed so far, three are in London. There has been one each in Newcastle upon Tyne and Redditch, Worcestershire, and a 12-year-old girl has tested positive in Paignton, Devon. | Of the eight UK cases confirmed so far, three are in London. There has been one each in Newcastle upon Tyne and Redditch, Worcestershire, and a 12-year-old girl has tested positive in Paignton, Devon. |
| Responding well | Responding well |
| All of those diagnosed are thought to have responded well to treatment. | All of those diagnosed are thought to have responded well to treatment. |
| A total of 230 possible cases are being investigated in the UK. | A total of 230 possible cases are being investigated in the UK. |
| CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 168 suspected deaths, 12 confirmedUS: one death, at least 109 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 4 confirmed, 12 probable casesCanada: 34 confirmed casesSpain: 13 confirmed casesUK: 10 confirmed casesGermany: 4 confirmed casesIsrael, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases eachThe Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong: 1 confirmed case each How the UK is trying to contain flu Mapping the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences | CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES Mexico: 168 suspected deaths, 12 confirmedUS: one death, at least 109 confirmed casesNew Zealand: 4 confirmed, 12 probable casesCanada: 34 confirmed casesSpain: 13 confirmed casesUK: 10 confirmed casesGermany: 4 confirmed casesIsrael, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases eachThe Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong: 1 confirmed case each How the UK is trying to contain flu Mapping the outbreak Swine flu: Your experiences |
| Dr Alan McNally, senior lecturer and influenza diagnostics researcher at Nottingham Trent University, downplayed the significance of Mr Pacitti's case. | Dr Alan McNally, senior lecturer and influenza diagnostics researcher at Nottingham Trent University, downplayed the significance of Mr Pacitti's case. |
| "We know that [the flu] is transmitted from human to human, it has happened in other parts of the world and we know it will happen here." | "We know that [the flu] is transmitted from human to human, it has happened in other parts of the world and we know it will happen here." |
| The WHO has set its pandemic alert level at five - but says it has no immediate plans to move to the highest level of six. | The WHO has set its pandemic alert level at five - but says it has no immediate plans to move to the highest level of six. |
| Prime Minster Gordon Brown said the UK was in a good position to cope with swine flu as he visited an NHS Direct centre in Beckenham, south-east London. | Prime Minster Gordon Brown said the UK was in a good position to cope with swine flu as he visited an NHS Direct centre in Beckenham, south-east London. |
| Quick treatment | Quick treatment |
| "There will be more cases, but at the same time it is treatable," he said. | "There will be more cases, but at the same time it is treatable," he said. |
| "If we can get to people quickly, we can trace their contacts and if we can give those affected Tamiflu [anti-viral drug], then we can avoid the problems that we see in some of the other countries." | "If we can get to people quickly, we can trace their contacts and if we can give those affected Tamiflu [anti-viral drug], then we can avoid the problems that we see in some of the other countries." |
| Gordon Brown: 'It is treatable' | Gordon Brown: 'It is treatable' |
| Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, has said it is impossible to predict how many deaths there could be in the UK until more was known about the virus strain. | Chief Medical Officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, has said it is impossible to predict how many deaths there could be in the UK until more was known about the virus strain. |
| BBC News health correspondent Jane Hughes says the spread of the virus might not take off until the autumn and the winter when people's resistance is lower. | BBC News health correspondent Jane Hughes says the spread of the virus might not take off until the autumn and the winter when people's resistance is lower. |
| Some 29 suspected cases are being investigated in Scotland, along with 20 in Wales where another 16 possible cases have been ruled out. | Some 29 suspected cases are being investigated in Scotland, along with 20 in Wales where another 16 possible cases have been ruled out. |
| Six people in Northern Ireland have also been given anti-viral drugs as a precaution, but none have tested positive. | Six people in Northern Ireland have also been given anti-viral drugs as a precaution, but none have tested positive. |
| On Thursday, health chiefs in the Irish Republic said one man had tested positive for swine flu - its first case. | On Thursday, health chiefs in the Irish Republic said one man had tested positive for swine flu - its first case. |
| SWINE FLU ADVICE Use clean tissues when you cough or sneeze Bin tissues after useWash hands with soap, hot water or gel NHS: Important Information About Swine Flu [118 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | SWINE FLU ADVICE Use clean tissues when you cough or sneeze Bin tissues after useWash hands with soap, hot water or gel NHS: Important Information About Swine Flu [118 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| Precautions being taken in the UK include an expansion of anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, the ordering of extra face masks and delivery of information leaflets for every family. | Precautions being taken in the UK include an expansion of anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, the ordering of extra face masks and delivery of information leaflets for every family. |
| Supplies of antibiotics are to be increased to deal with any complications arising as a result of flu infections. | Supplies of antibiotics are to be increased to deal with any complications arising as a result of flu infections. |
| An advertising campaign to help prevent the spread of the virus has also been launched. | An advertising campaign to help prevent the spread of the virus has also been launched. |
| The Department of Health's Catch it, Bin it, Kill it! adverts urge people to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, throw them away and wash their hands. | The Department of Health's Catch it, Bin it, Kill it! adverts urge people to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, throw them away and wash their hands. |
| Members of the public can call 0800 1513513 for recorded information about swine flu. In Scotland, anyone with concerns about the virus can call 08454 24 24 24. | Members of the public can call 0800 1513513 for recorded information about swine flu. In Scotland, anyone with concerns about the virus can call 08454 24 24 24. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| An advertising campaign urges people to catch the sneeze before binning the tissue | An advertising campaign urges people to catch the sneeze before binning the tissue |
| Are you or is someone you know affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you or is someone you know affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |