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Brown's adviser has swine flu symptoms
13 Jul 2009The swine flu virus sweeping the country has reached Downing Street, it has emerged.
It is understood that Gordon Brown's adviser on climate change, Michael Jacobs, has been infected.
It is thought that he may have contracted the virus during a recent visit to Mexico where the global outbreak originated.
He is not thought to have had any direct contact with the Prime Minister since developing the symptoms two weeks ago.
Nevertheless, Mr Jacobs was required to stay away from last week's G8 summit in L'Aquila, in Italy, for fear that he could spread the infection to other delegations. Instead, he followed the negotiations by telephone.
A No 10 spokesman said last night: "There has been extensive preparation in Downing Street and across the Civil Service to minimise the spread of swine flu.
"The Cabinet Office has issued guidance to personnel managers in all departments and comprehensive information is available to civil servants on how to deal with suspected cases."
The revelation came after health bosses confirmed it has ordered enough swine flu vaccines for the entire population under plans being drawn up to tackle the spread of the virus.
The Department of Health said the vaccine was still being developed but it expected supplies to start becoming available by early autumn.
By the end of the year, around 60 million doses will be available, a spokesman said.
With the vaccine expected to be administered in two doses per person, this would be enough for 30 million people, according to the Department of Health.
Contracts were signed with manufacturers GSK and Baxter to supply up to 132 million doses of swine flu vaccine.
In what would be the biggest vaccination programme of the last 50 years, experts will draw up a priority list of patients to be given immunity before the bug becomes more virulent.
It comes after the first British patient without underlying health problems died after contracting swine flu, taking the number of swine flu-linked deaths in the UK to 15.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "Offering vaccination against swine flu has always been part of our plans in order to protect as many people as possible.
"The Department of Health has now signed contracts with manufacturers to supply enough vaccine for the whole population once it has been developed.
"We expect the first batches of vaccines to arrive by early autumn, with around 60 million doses available by the end of the year - enough for 30 million people to be vaccinated - with more following after that."
Nearly 10,000 Britons have gone down with swine flu after it spread to the UK from Mexico.
The UK has the third highest case total in the world after Mexico, with 10,262, and the US, which has at least 33,902.
* The NHS advises anyone who thinks they might have flu to check their symptoms on www.nhs.uk or call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513.
Reader views (4)
Xtremely Worried - what has the government got to do with the medical companies who research, test and produce the vaccine exactly? If your boiler failed you would probably blame Browns for that too!
- Bingobobbins, London, 27/07/2009 09:01
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We’ve been hearing about Swine Flu for many months, and vaccinations won’t start until early autumn. This is just typical of this government. On the really important things it is always Too Little, Too Late!!
- Xtremely Worried, Thingy Britain, 27/07/2009 08:01
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I'm not surprised,he probably caught it from our supreme leader.
- Steve, London, 27/07/2009 08:01
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Oh my God who will take care of the economy?! Haha I cannot wait to see the back of these idiots.
- Georgie, Islington, London, 27/07/2009 08:01
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