Swine flu comes to Oldham

Saddleworth man is first to get virus after trip to Mexico

A SADDLEWORTH man who visited Mexico has been confirmed as Oldham’s first case of swine flu.

The man, who is believed to be in his late 30s, did not need hospital treatment and is being treated at home with the anti-viral Tamiflu.

He is said to be recovering well and family members have also been treated as a precaution, but no children are believed to be affected.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed that there was no need for any other public health measures.

Tests have also confirmed Greater Manchester’s first case of swine flu in someone who has not visited Mexico.

The man from Tameside is thought to have contracted the virus from a friend who lived in London.

Five other adults and three children across the country have tested positive for the bug, taking the total number of cases to 65, with 336 under investigation.

Local doctors’ leader Dr Kalish Chand urged people not to panic and said: “There’s isn’t any need to be alarmist. Fortunately this particular strain is a mild strain and hygiene is the most important thing.”

Newly-wed couple Iain and Dawn Askham from Scotland were last month confirmed as the first Britons to catch swine flu. They had honeymooned in Mexico where it originated. It advised that travellers returning from the country, or other places where there have been outbreaks, do not need to take any special precautions.

However, they should monitor their health for seven days after returning and, if they experience symptoms, they should phone the family doctor or NHS Direct for advice on 0845-4647.

Simple but crucial measures that people can take to protect themselves including regular and thorough hand-washing.

They are advised to cover the mouth and nose with a paper tissue when coughing or sneezing, dispose of the tissue in a bin immediately and then wash their hands.

More information is available at www.nhs.uk; www.hpa.org.uk  and www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk  

One in three could be infected

Swine flu is likely to spread around the world in the next few months and infect one–third of the global population, according to the first detailed analysis of the spread of the virus published by British scientists today.

The study by researchers at London’s Imperial College, published in the journal Science, found that swine flu has “full pandemic potential”, spreading easily from person to person and infecting around one in three. But the research’s author, Professor Neil Ferguson, said it was too early to say whether the virus will cause deaths on a massive scale.

Its full impact on the UK is not likely to be known until the annual flu season in the autumn and winter, when a “really major epidemic” can be expected in the northern hemisphere.