Sunderland baby and Gateshead teacher contract swine flu

Jul 8 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

Maggie Atkinson, group director of learning and children at Gateshead Council, said: “We are working closely with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to assess and monitor the situation at the school.”

The two new cases bring the total confirmed cases in the North East to around 50, although figures will no longer be confirmed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in the same way, as it is being left to doctors to diagnose the disease, rather than send samples to labs.

The HPA last week said the UK has moved past the stage of containing the outbreak and into the “treatment phase”.

And the government has warned that the number of cases could soar to 100,000 a day by next month.

A spokesperson for the Health Protection Agency in the North East said: “GPs are now diagnosing cases on the basis of clinical observation rather than laboratory testing.

“Everyone who has flu-like symptoms will be assessed by a doctor and may be given antivirals to manage their illness.”

Anyone who has flu-like symptoms should phone their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for further advice.

Information is also available online on www.nhs.uk, or through the Swine Flu information line on 0800 151-3513.