Swine flu claims 31st victim in UK
Another patient suffering from swine flu has died in the UK.
The case, in the West Midlands, takes the number of reported fatalities involving people in the UK with the virus to 31.
The patient, who has not been identified, tested positive for swine flu but a cause of death has not yet been established.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stressed the Government is making an "enormous effort" to ensure the UK is prepared for the swine flu pandemic as the death toll continues to rise.
The Prime Minister said "robust plans" were in place to fight the virus, and measures were being taken in a "calm and organised and ordered way".
At his monthly press conference in Downing Street Mr Brown said: "We are putting in an enormous effort to ensure our country is best prepared to deal with the international pandemic of swine flu. We are doing so in a calm and organised and ordered way."
And he added: "From the end of this week the National Pandemic Flu Service in England will be up and running, it will quickly diagnose people who have swine flu and it will give them the opportunity to get antivirals direct from local centres. This, of course, will free up GPs and NHS time."
Earlier a 15-year-old girl - who had underlying medical conditions - was revealed as the 30th British victim linked to the outbreak on Tuesday after she died in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
The news came after the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that more than 700 people worldwide are now thought to have died after contracting the virus. It is a huge jump from the 429 deaths reported on July 6.
Meanwhile, the world's first human trials of a swine flu vaccine have begun in Australia. Two biotechnology companies have started injecting adult volunteers in the southern city of Adelaide with their vaccines. Adelaide-based Vaxine began trials on Monday with 300 subjects, and Melbourne's CSL has 240 people in its seven-month trial. The companies say their trials are the first tests of a swine flu vaccine on humans.
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