North on alert as first swine flu case revealed

May 1 2009 by Paul James, The Journal

THE first case of swine flu was confirmed in the North East yesterday. A Newcastle woman suffering from the illness developed symptoms after she returned from a holiday in Cancun, Mexico, almost two weeks ago.

Last night it emerged she had returned to her job at Procter & Gamble’s plant on Cobalt Business Park in North Tyneside when she was taken ill.

While the site has not been closed, staff have been advised to remain vigilant.

The unnamed woman returned from her holiday on April 18 and was soon suffering mild flu symptoms.

She is believed to have spent no more than three hours at work before being sent home.

Medical experts say the two-week incubation period has almost passed with no signs of more people being infected.

Newcastle University also revealed two of their students live with the infected woman.

Both have received the anti-viral Tamiflu. Reports suggested further close contacts of the woman have also received the drug. The Tyneside infection was among three new cases of the virus confirmed by the Department for Health yesterday afternoon.

Last night, the woman was back home after responding well to treatment. Her housemates have been told there was no need to isolate themselves from the community unless they develop symptoms.

But concerns the virus could spread through the community remained rife among Newcastle students.

Geography undergraduate Nicola Bowen, 21, of Jesmond, Newcastle, said: “Everyone is anxious to find out who it is, in case it’s someone they’ve come into contact with.”

Fraser Pirie, 19, also of Jesmond, studying German and business, said: “I think it’s got the potential to be pretty bad. Students can be infected because they travel a lot but I think the British government is pretty well prepared.”

English language student David Coverdale, 21, of Sandyford, Newcastle, said: “It was a shock to hear about it. Obviously it’s all over the news, but it’s very surprising to hear about it at Newcastle University. Someone ran into the Student Union earlier shouting it out. We need to get the word out without making people panic.”