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Swine flu 'may have reached pandemic level'
10 Jun 2009The head of the World Health Organisation will consult governments today about changing the international alert on the swine flu outbreak.
WHO director-general Margaret Chan said she believed the spread may have reached pandemic level and would be consulting governments before making a formal announcement.
She said: "Once I get indisputable evidence, I will make the announcement."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said she had no information about a consultation with WHO.
But said: "The localised cases of swine flu found in the UK have, in the majority of cases, not been severe and we have not seen evidence of widespread community transmission.
"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.
"But we must not be complacent - it is right to prepare for the possibility of a global pandemic.
"Clearly, the WHO declaring an official pandemic would be a serious development. However, the WHO alert levels reflect the global view, and any action taken in the UK would be based on the situation here.
"We are monitoring the situation constantly and if anything changes we will react accordingly."
Yesterday an English school today became the 20th to close since the outbreak of swine flu.
The Health Protection Agency said five schools were currently closed, 15 had shut and had since reopened.
The junior school in Berkshire closed after a pupil contracted the virus on a trip to America.
Berkshire West NHS said the infected child was making "good recovery".
Emmbrook Junior School in Wokingham was open until noon yesterday so children and staff could receive antiviral inoculations but will be closed for a week.
"We had a team of doctors and other clinicians at the school throughout the morning checking all children for symptoms," said NHS Berkshire West consultant in Public health Dr Jane Wells.
"All children and staff were offered antiviral medication as a preventative measure and advised to remain at home for seven days."
Emmbrook Junior School head teacher Paul Rowe said: "We are working closely with Health Protection Agency and on their advice the school will reopen on Tuesday June 16.
"This is to reduce the impact of the possible spread of the infection."
Among the 20 closed education establishments was public school Eton College which had to shut for a week because 31 students and staff were infected with the influenza virus.
A further nine people in England were confirmed with swine flu yesterday, bringing the total in the UK to 675, health officials said.
There have now been 435 confirmed cases in England, 232 in Scotland, six in Northern Ireland and two in Wales, according to the Health Protection Agency.
Another 504 possible cases are under investigation.
Reader views (3)
Been having diarrhoea, fatigue ad very mild fever for a start.
Then diarrhoea resume after rested for a day.
The subsequent episodes of dry throat and mouth accompanied by dry cough was on and off for 2 weeks. This will come on and off almost suddenly.
History of initial productive greenish sputum.
It tails off after I took EES.
I believe I had H1N1 even tnough not tested.
My collegues about 20 of us suffers the same signs and symptoms.
We worked in aircond rooms together.
Maybe some one should do a study on the signs and symptoms or the pattern we have gone through.
Its not that bad so there is no need to do any test but it botheres me as our signs were similar and the spread was fast.
We did not suffer much but what worries me is this, others who are not that strong may suffer more or worst.
Is it possible to have carriers???
T.Q.
- Jennifer, malaysia, 02/08/2009 03:14
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I have been at home with swine 'flu (diagnosed by the NHS list of symptoms), for a week. It felt like a bad cold, and today, 7 days after the appearance of the first symptom (sore throat), I am practically back to normal. There are some people who will be badly hit, obviously, as there always are with any 'flu, but almost everyone else will share my experience. WHY then, is there such a huge panic about this? We are making our country a pariah!!! The media are largely to blame with the fuss they are making on a daily basis - this is not BUBONIC PLAGUE for goodness sake! All countries have some cases - but only WE as usual are making sure we are viewed as in some way a "disease ridden" country!
- Cassandra, Notts, 27/07/2009 11:04
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The bad news: a lot of us are going to get flu. It seems to be doubling every two weeks or so.
The better news: very few deaths so far. Provided it stays that way, not so much to worry about.
It's good news for Gordon Brown. If it carries on at this rate, an Autumn election will be resistable on public health grounds in the middle of a flu epidemic!
- Nigel, London, 27/07/2009 10:04
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