Swine Flu Update – Issued Wednesday 24 June 2009

– 8 confirmed cases in Wales, including 3 new cases: – A 19 year old female from Monmouthshire linked to a confirmed case of swine flu in Cambridge. She has been offered antiviral medicine and is recovering. The NPHS has identified three close contacts who are all are well. – A 20 year old male from Torfaen linked to a confirmed case of swine flu in Bristol. He has been offered antiviral medicine and is recovering. The NPHS has identified one close contact that has tested negative for swine flu.

– 160 people have been under investigation in Wales. Of these, swine flu has been confirmed in 8 cases (see above) and ruled out in 134 cases, leaving 18 still under investigation. All of these are displaying, or have displayed, mild symptoms.

– Of the 18 people under investigation, seven were well when first identified, but reported recent flu-like symptoms following travel to affected areas. Blood tests are being undertaken on these individuals to see if they had the flu and to help the NPHS understand the pattern of the disease from the past. Their symptoms may or may not have been due to swine flu. Testing will be conducted in a number of weeks to check whether these people did have swine flu – scientifically it won’t work before that. Investigations have shown that people they had close contact with did not catch flu from them when they were ill.

– No further details will be confirmed or denied about cases in order to protect their right to confidentiality.

– There are now 2,908 laboratory confirmed cases in the UK – 8 cases in Wales, 647 cases in Scotland, 2236 cases in England and 17 in Northern Ireland.

– One person with swine flu in the UK – a case in Scotland – has died. The patient had underlying health conditions.

– Swine flu cases have been confirmed in 99 countries. For the latest international figures for the spread of swine flu, visit the website of the World Health Organization at www.who.int

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