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Killer flu virus ‘already circulating in London’
Mark Prigg28.04.09
Swine flu is already spreading through London, one of Britain's leading virus experts warned today.
He claims that the number of travellers passing through the capital means it is inevitable the virus is already circulating.
Professor Peter Openshaw, the Director of the Centre for Respiratory Infection at Imperial College London, said the next week could be critical as the virus begins to affect Londoners.
"Our assumption is that there are people already carrying the virus in London, but they just do not know it yet," said Professor Openshaw. "There will be more infections here."
The stark warning comes as the World Health Organisation last night raised its alert level from three to four, two steps short of declaring a full pandemic.
The number of probable deaths from the virus in Mexico has also officially risen to 152 though only 20 cases are confirmed.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson told MPs there had been 25 suspected cases in the UK, of which eight had proved negative. Professor Openshaw said London would suffer most from swine flu.
"The sheer number of people travelling through London means that we will, inevitably, bear the brunt of any outbreak in Britain. The key uncertainty is how severe the infections will be.
"The next week will be critical as we will begin to see just how severe the infections are outside Mexico. The hope is that this will just be an 'ordinary' flu, but looking at the fatalities in Mexico, it is impossible to say how bad it will be at the moment."
Two of Britain's biggest tour operators, Thomson and First Choice, today said they are cancelling flights to Mexico and arranging emergency flights home for those who have already flown out.
They were due to fly passengers to Mexico today on flights from Gatwick and Manchester but this morning cancelled the services following the latest advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Thomas Cook may cancel a flight on Thursday.
World Health Organisation assistant director general Keiji Fukuda said countries should now focus on mitigating the effects of the virus. He added: "With the virus being widespread, closing borders or restricting travel really has very little effects in stopping the movement of this virus."
Reader views (7)
i think that its definately in london, who will be the first, i live in isleworth and certainly hope this girl is not infected.
- Ryan Matthew, london
It should be called Gordon's virus
- John Smith, London , England
Mike, I think it's spoilt globetrotting westerners that are spreading this particular plague. It's rich tourists and cross Atlantic travelers doing the spreading this time.
- Bryan, london
Why should London be left out of the hysteria ? The fact that London has NO REPORTED CASES must not be an obstacle, I mean, it's obvious isn't it ? 8 million people live here surely one of them must have swine flu. How about you ? you are looking a bit peaky.
- Neil, London,Uk
Oh great, another mankind killing virus like (Aids,Sars etc) coming in, just trying to see how I can blame Blair/Brown for this but so far its only that England and its open door borders and the millions of 3rd world migrants bringing all the health problems, any other suggestions?
- Mike, London England
"Our assumption is that there are people already carrying the virus in London, but they just do not know it yet,"
...And this is in addition to the cases of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and TB that we already import from Eastern Europe and the Third World.
- Croyboy, Croydon
Yet again I am reading "though only 20 cases are confirmed." We have all been reading and hearing this for almost a week now. How come Mexico can't confirm more cases, when other countries are able to do so in a day or two. We know that some 150+ people have died, yet over the past four or five days the "number confirmed" has been 20.
These deaths in Mexico could well be nothing whatsoever to do woth Swine Flu, so on what basis are we panicking? Are we being told all the facts here my friends?
- Hugh, Birmingham, UK
