55 Swine Flu Cases in UK Now
According to updates from the Health Protection Agency and the Department of Health yesterday, there have been seven more cases of the swine flu confirmed in the United Kingdom, which now bring the total to 55. In England, 3 adults and 4 children were affected, bringing the total in the country to 50. The remaining 5 cases are in Scotland.
In Middlesex, a school announced that it would close for the week since one of the pupils had contracted the virus. The school is planned to reopen on May 18th, according to the Health Protection Agency.
A Health Protection Agency spokeswoman said that an adult in the east of England and one from London had been in contact with cases that were confirmed already. The third adult, who is from London and the children were tested last week and could have contracted the swine flu before the school was closed. She continued that, since that time, all of the children and staff at the school have been given antivirals as a precaution. Because of the time difference between reports of symptoms, testing and confirming the tests, the spokeswoman added, the new cases reported every day may not have symptoms anymore, making a recovery.
While the Health Protection Agency announced that another 384 possible cases were being investigated, a spokeswoman from the Department of Health said that, while all of the infections in the nation are mild, no one can let their guard down. They should still prepared for the potential of a world pandemic, she added.