Swine flu: More UK cases confirmed

Swine flu: More UK cases confirmed

A 12-year-old girl is among five people who have now been diagnosed with swine flu in the UK.

The girl, from Torbay in Devon, plus two adults from London and Redditch were confirmed with the flu on Wednesday.

The first two British cases were confirmed on Monday in Scotland.

Eight people who had been in contact with them have now tested negative for the virus, said Scotland Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced details of three new cases in the Commons on Wednesday.

The girl's school, Paignton Community College, has been temporarily closed and all other pupils offered anti-viral treatment.

Mr Brown said the UK was taking "the preparations that are necessary and the precautions to prevent the incidence of this disease in this country".

Measures include enhanced airport checks, expanding anti-viral stocks from 35 million to 50 million, ordering extra face masks and printing an information leaflet for every family.

The extra masks will be used by health professionals such as nurses and doctors working with infected patients in the event of a pandemic.

The Department of Health said the masks are not intended for members of the public, for whom they are thought to be of little use. The information leaflets on the virus will be delivered across the UK in the coming days and will contain information about the flu outbreak and preventative messages.