UK swine flu highest in Europe

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An extra 141 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in England, making the UK home to the highest number of confirmed cases in Europe.

The national total now stands at 1,461 patients since April 2009.

This number does not include clinically diagnosed cases in Scotland where the virus has spread particularly fast. These are yet to be confirmed.

At the weekend a 38-year-old Scottish woman became the first victim of the virus outside America.

Jacqui Fleming from Glasgow had given birth to a premature boy two weeks before her death at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. The baby, named Jack, who also died did not have swine flu.

In a statement the family said, "our whole family is absolutely devastated."

"Generally mild"

Professor Hugh Pennington, a bacteriologist at Aberdeen University, says the death does not indicate that the virus is any more virulent.

"It does not point to the virus getting nastier. All the evidence to date suggests the virus is not changing at all," he said.

A Department of Health spokesperson said "The localised cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been generally mild in most people, but are proving to be severe in a small minority of cases.

All the evidence to date suggests the virus is not changing at all Professor Hugh Pennington

"We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease and to put in place arrangements to ensure that the UK is well-placed to deal with this new infection."

Pandemic

Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) held an emergency meeting at which it declared a global flu pandemic, the first in 40 years.

A pandemic is declared on geographical terms as the virus spreads, but it does mean that it is causing more severe illness or a greater number of deaths.

The swine flu (H1N1) virus has now spread to 76 countries after it was first detected in Mexico in April. Young working age adults have been the most likely to contract the virus, with a third to a half of complications presenting in otherwise healthy people.

The government has been stockpiling antivirals like Tamiflu and has ordered vaccine. The first doses could be administered in October.

Anyone suffering from flu-like symptoms is advised to seek medical attention and stay at home.