A SIX-year-old girl is one of two new British swine flu cases confirmed today, bringing the total number of victims to 15. The girl from Oxfordshire, who has recently returned from a holiday in Mexico, is said to be making ‘a good recovery at home’. A Merseyside man is the second swine flu victim confirmed today. He and his wife - one of the 13 people already diagnosed with the condition - had also been to Mexico recently.
The rise comes as the first known English human-to-human swine flu victim spoke out about his ordeal. Barry Greatorex, 43, is only the second Briton to have contracted the illness without travelling to Mexico, where it originated. It is thought he caught swine flu during a brief meeting with a female colleague who had recently been to the Central American country. Tulisa Contostavlos, 20, from north London, whose band feature on Tinchy Stryder’s chart-topping hit Number One, is in a Greek hospital undergoing test. The first Asian cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Hong Kong and South Korea.
Italy has also reported its first case, bringing the total number of affected countries to 17. More than 600 people in the UK are being tested for the illness. Related Links However, in Mexico, the country’s death toll from swine flu has been revised down from 176 to 101. Mr Greatorex, from Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol, told The Sun newspaper: “It has been pretty horrible. “I was in the garden at the weekend when I started feeling pains across the top of my chest and became short of breath.
“Over the next few days it grew worse and into a fever – but even though I told the doctor it was swine flu, he said it probably wasn’t. “Then they rang me on Thursday and told me I had tested positive. I haven’t been to Mexico so I was really shocked.”“My first thoughts were for my wife and son – I could never forgive myself if I passed it on to them.” Mr Greatorex and his wife Fran, 46, a childminder, have taken their son Jamie, 13, out of school as a precaution.
Fran Greatorex said: “I’m fearful for other people. I’ve been shopping at two supermarkets this week and we went to a family party on Saturday. “I hope I haven’t spread anything – but it’s not our fault because they told us earlier this week it was normal flu.” The UK’s Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson said: “As the WHO (World Health Organisation) has already said, it considers a pandemic to be imminent. We must all continue to be vigilant and try to reduce the spread of the virus.
“People have their part to play in controlling the spread of influenza. I would like to stress again that it is important for us all to practice good respiratory and hand hygiene.“The UK has been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic for a number of years and is among the most prepared countries in the world. “The NHS is ready to deal with a pandemic. Our plans are robust and advanced.” The first known British human-to-human swine flu victim was Scot Graeme Pacitti, 24, from Polmont, Falkirk. The other 13 Britons, who have contracted the illness, have all recently returned from Mexico.
There are now 12 confirmed cases of the virus in England and three in Scotland, according to the Department of Health. The Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said there were 19 other suspected cases and one probable in Scotland, “quite a significant reduction” from Friday. It also emerged today that the lead singer of chart-topping band N-Dubz has a suspected case of swine flu.
The rise comes as the first known English human-to-human swine flu victim spoke out about his ordeal. Barry Greatorex, 43, is only the second Briton to have contracted the illness without travelling to Mexico, where it originated. It is thought he caught swine flu during a brief meeting with a female colleague who had recently been to the Central American country. Tulisa Contostavlos, 20, from north London, whose band feature on Tinchy Stryder’s chart-topping hit Number One, is in a Greek hospital undergoing test. The first Asian cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Hong Kong and South Korea.
Italy has also reported its first case, bringing the total number of affected countries to 17. More than 600 people in the UK are being tested for the illness. Related Links However, in Mexico, the country’s death toll from swine flu has been revised down from 176 to 101. Mr Greatorex, from Chipping Sodbury, near Bristol, told The Sun newspaper: “It has been pretty horrible. “I was in the garden at the weekend when I started feeling pains across the top of my chest and became short of breath.
“Over the next few days it grew worse and into a fever – but even though I told the doctor it was swine flu, he said it probably wasn’t. “Then they rang me on Thursday and told me I had tested positive. I haven’t been to Mexico so I was really shocked.”“My first thoughts were for my wife and son – I could never forgive myself if I passed it on to them.” Mr Greatorex and his wife Fran, 46, a childminder, have taken their son Jamie, 13, out of school as a precaution.
Fran Greatorex said: “I’m fearful for other people. I’ve been shopping at two supermarkets this week and we went to a family party on Saturday. “I hope I haven’t spread anything – but it’s not our fault because they told us earlier this week it was normal flu.” The UK’s Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson said: “As the WHO (World Health Organisation) has already said, it considers a pandemic to be imminent. We must all continue to be vigilant and try to reduce the spread of the virus.
“People have their part to play in controlling the spread of influenza. I would like to stress again that it is important for us all to practice good respiratory and hand hygiene.“The UK has been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic for a number of years and is among the most prepared countries in the world. “The NHS is ready to deal with a pandemic. Our plans are robust and advanced.” The first known British human-to-human swine flu victim was Scot Graeme Pacitti, 24, from Polmont, Falkirk. The other 13 Britons, who have contracted the illness, have all recently returned from Mexico.
There are now 12 confirmed cases of the virus in England and three in Scotland, according to the Department of Health. The Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said there were 19 other suspected cases and one probable in Scotland, “quite a significant reduction” from Friday. It also emerged today that the lead singer of chart-topping band N-Dubz has a suspected case of swine flu.
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