British swine flu cases confirmed

Last Updated: Monday, 27 April 2009, 17:51 GMT

The first British cases of the deadly swine flu responsible for dozens of deaths in Mexico have been confirmed.

Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told a press conference in Edinburgh: "I can confirm that tests have demonstrated conclusively that the two Scottish cases of swine flu are positive."

Ms Sturgeon added that both patients, at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, are "recovering well".

Ms Sturgeon said that a further seven people among the 22 who had been in contact with the two infected individuals have developed "mild symptoms" which have not been confirmed as swine flu and are being "appropriately cared for".

She added they were receiving drugs at home, not in hospital.

Ms Sturgeon added: "I would reiterate that the threat to the public remains low and that the precautionary actions we have taken over the last two days have been important in allowing us to respond appropriately and give us the best prospect of disrupting the spread of the virus. However, this is a developing situation which we continue to monitor very closely, in conjunction with our colleagues in other parts of the UK and the World Health Organisation."

The two infected people were being kept in hospital after showing flu-like symptoms, following a trip to Mexico, where more than 100 people have been killed in an outbreak.

Earlier it was confirmed that a Canadian woman being treated for suspected swine flu at an undisclosed hospital in Manchester was "highly unlikely" to have contracted the illness.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson told the Commons that worldwide concern about the outbreak was understandable.

He said the UK was one of the best prepared countries in the world and had been readying for a flu pandemic for five years.

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