Cases of swine flu ‘could top 100,000 a day by August’

New cases of swine flu could top more than 100,000 a day by the end of August, ministers have warned, as they admitted they can no longer contain the spread of the virus. Patients with suspected symptoms will now be told to stay at home and telephone their family doctor for a diagnosis, as part of a major step change in the handling of the pandemic, in an effort to limit the spread of the infection. Anti-viral drugs will also no longer be given as a precaution to people who may have come in contact with the infection. Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, said that an almost doubling of cases over the past seven days had prompted the Government to move to the third and final “treatment” stage of dealing with the outbreak. A specially convened meeting of Cobra, the Government’s emergencies committee, was warned that cases could... [read full story]                    

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