Chief Medical Officer: Swine flu outbreak not out of control

The number of swine flu cases in the UK could reach more than 100,000 per day by the end of next month. Health Secretary Andy Burnham told the Commons that the UK has moved past the stage of containing the swine flu outbreak and into the "treatment phase". "We have reached the next stage in management of the disease," he said. "The national focus will be on treating the increasing numbers affected by swine flu. "We will move to this treatment phase across the UK with immediate effect." There are currently 7,447 people ill with swine flu in the UK. Updating MPs on the progress of swine flu, Mr Burnham said antivirals would be offered to all those who have contracted the illness, with higher risk patients given priority. The Government's Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said a vaccine was at an advanced stage and denied that the outbreak was out of control. Speaking at a press conference at the Department of Health, he added: "We are continuing to take a very firm grip on this situation. We have the advantage of a centralised healthcare system which, when it needs to, can take control. "We have a big stockpile of anti-virals, the biggest probably in the world. "We have vaccine at an advance stage of production." When asked if the disease was out of control, he added: "It is following a predictable path - it isn't out of control, but flu viruses cannot be put back in their box once they are out." Mr Burnham said it was not yet known what the cost of tackling swine flu would be. He added: "We are in a strong position to deal with this pandemic. We are the only country in the world to be able to offer anti-virals to everyone as well as those at greater risks. "People should be reassured and should not be alarmed by this change."

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ITN | July 2, 2009

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