Govt warns of 100,000 new swine flu cases every day
Govt warns of 100,000 new swine flu cases every day
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Thursday, 02, Jul 2009 05:48
The Department of Health have warned there could be 100,000 new cases of swine flu confirmed every day by next month.
Giving a statement to the House of Commons, health secretary Andy Burnham announced the government had decided to shift from a strategy of containment to one of "treatment".
Doctors will now be told to diagnose swine flu in patients instead of waiting for official laboratory results.
Patients diagnosed with the H1N1 virus will also be instructed to stay at home while arrangements are made to get anti-viral medication to them.
Mr Burnham told MPs the national focus would be on treating the increasing number of people affected by swine flu.
There are currently 7,447 confirmed cases of the virus in the UK, with established hot-spots in London, Scotland and the West Midlands.
Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said at a press conference this afternoon health experts believe the spread of swine flu is following a "predicted pattern" and rejected claims it was out of control.