This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8029202.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Test delay in flu transfer case | Test delay in flu transfer case |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Tests on a man thought to be the first person to contract swine flu from another infected person within the UK, have proved inconclusive. | |
| Graeme Pacitti, from Falkirk, is a friend of a couple who contracted the virus after visiting Mexico. | |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said "technical difficulties", possibly due to antiviral treatment, had delayed Mr Pacitti's test result. | |
| She said 29 possible cases of swine flu were being investigated in Scotland. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "There are some technical difficulties being experienced in getting enough viral DNA from this sample in order to get the test result. | |
| "This may be because this individual has been treated with Tamiflu." | |
| The Health Protection Agency said on Friday nine cases of swine flu had now been confirmed in the UK, the latest in north west England involving a person who had recently returned from Mexico. | |
| Graeme Pacitti works at Falkirk Royal Infirmary and plays in the same football team as Iain Askham. | |
| You try to stay calm but at the back of your mind there is the possibility that you might die Iain Askham Couple criticised for flu story | |
| Mr Askham and his wife Dawn became the first people in the UK to be confirmed with swine flu after honeymooning in Mexico. | |
| Mr Pacitti is currently quarantined at his flat along with several members of his family. | |
| His mother told reporters he was "feeling under the weather". | |
| A neighbour of Mr Pacitti, who also works at the infirmary, said she was concerned by a lack of information provided. | |
| "I'm waiting to hear whether or not I'm to go into work," she said. | |
| "No-one has told us anything, I have a five week old grandson and I've had to tell my family to keep away." | |
| Earlier a virologist at the National Institute for Medical Research, Dr John Macauley, told BBC Radio Scotland that confirmed cases involving "onward transmission" of the virus would reveal how strong it was. | Earlier a virologist at the National Institute for Medical Research, Dr John Macauley, told BBC Radio Scotland that confirmed cases involving "onward transmission" of the virus would reveal how strong it was. |
| He said: "If the people who import the virus into the country infect other people and they go and infect more then I think we are in a pandemic situation. | He said: "If the people who import the virus into the country infect other people and they go and infect more then I think we are in a pandemic situation. |
| "But at the moment, if for example this is one case only in which we see onward transmission in the UK and that's reproduced elsewhere, maybe this virus isn't fit enough to cause a pandemic but just a big epidemic." | "But at the moment, if for example this is one case only in which we see onward transmission in the UK and that's reproduced elsewhere, maybe this virus isn't fit enough to cause a pandemic but just a big epidemic." |
| However, Dr Alan McNally, senior lecturer and influenza diagnostics researcher at Nottingham Trent University, downplayed the significance of onward transmission. | However, Dr Alan McNally, senior lecturer and influenza diagnostics researcher at Nottingham Trent University, downplayed the significance of onward transmission. |
| "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." |
| Tests are continuing as amid efforts to contain the spread of the virus | Tests are continuing as amid efforts to contain the spread of the virus |
| Meanwhile the Askhams, who were released from hospital on Thursday, have spoken of how they feared they might die from the virus. | |
| Iain told the Daily Mail: "You try to stay calm but at the back of your mind there is the possibility that you might die." | Iain told the Daily Mail: "You try to stay calm but at the back of your mind there is the possibility that you might die." |
| They were treated for five nights in separate isolation rooms at Monklands Hospital, Airdrie. | |
| "It was particularly hard to bear, because I knew that Dawn was next door and that she wasn't well," Mr Askham told the newspaper. | "It was particularly hard to bear, because I knew that Dawn was next door and that she wasn't well," Mr Askham told the newspaper. |
| "She was so close and yet I could not reach her. I just wanted to give her a cuddle and reassure her." | "She was so close and yet I could not reach her. I just wanted to give her a cuddle and reassure her." |
| The couple said they believed they contracted the virus on their flight back from Cancun, during which several passengers were coughing and sneezing. | The couple said they believed they contracted the virus on their flight back from Cancun, during which several passengers were coughing and sneezing. |
| All of the UK cases diagnosed so far are thought to have responded well to treatment. | All of the UK cases diagnosed so far are thought to have responded well to treatment. |
| Advertising campaign | Advertising campaign |
| Precautions being taken in the UK include enhanced airport checks, an expansion of anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, the ordering of extra masks and delivery of information leaflets for every family. | Precautions being taken in the UK include enhanced airport checks, an expansion of anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million by the end of May, the ordering of extra 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. |
| Meanwhile, the WHO has announced it will call the virus influenza A (H1N1), rather than swine flu, which it says is misleading as pork meat is safe and the virus is being transmitted from human to human. | Meanwhile, the WHO has announced it will call the virus influenza A (H1N1), rather than swine flu, which it says is misleading as pork meat is safe and the virus is being transmitted from human to human. |
| Members of the public with concerns about the virus can call 08454 24 24 24. | Members of the public 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 |