World Health organisations are moving into place to contain an outbreak of a potentially fatal strain of influenza, swine flu. Believed to have originated in Mexico, so far 103 people have died there, though there have been no reported fatalities in any other countries.
Isolated cases have also been identified in the U.S though as yet there have been no deaths. Reports are coming out showing that the majority of the American patients are on the road to recovery. As well as eight New York schoolchildren believed to be infected, there are 14 other U.S cases that have been reported, 6 in Canada, and suspected infections in France, New Zealand, Israel, Spain and Australia.
British health experts have said that the U.K is well placed to deal with a potential threat of this nature and have said that they have stockpiles of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. Pharmacies have reported problems with private supply after the government commandeered stockpiles of the treatment.
Airlines are carefully monitoring passengers coming from Mexico and have been instructed to report any passengers displaying flu-like symptoms such as coughing or sneezing. One crew member has already been sent into quarantine at Harrow’s Northwick Park Hospital after collapsing on a B.A flight back from Mexico City to Heathrow.