Swine flu numbers 'to show decline'

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There were 25,000 new cases in England when Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson gave his most recent update last Thursday, compared with 30,000 and 110,000 in the two weeks before.

Experts have said the number of new cases of swine flu should continue to decline while schools and universities are closed.

But it is feared numbers will increase sharply again when term time begins.

Estimates for the eventual number of deaths range from 55,000 to as high as 750,000.

So far, 44 people in England have been confirmed as dying after contracting swine flu and another five have died in Scotland.

Sir Liam announced that people in priority groups would begin receiving vaccinations in October.

Graves could be dug in advance for victims of swine flu if the pandemic escalates, it has also emerged.

A Home Office document published earlier this year sets out plans for how local councils should deal with a high death toll, including setting up temporary mortuaries if necessary.

The document says that while most cemeteries have sufficient burial capacity for a number of years, this could be put to the test at the peak of a pandemic.