Listen
Update on A(H1N1) virus
02/06/2009
Tests results have today confirmed 23 new confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) in Scotland, bringing the total to 65.
Fourteen of the 23 new cases are in NHS Highland - all of them in or around the Dunoon area - 6 in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 2 in Ayrshire and Arran and 1 in Lothian. There are no new probable cases.
Two patients among the confirmed new cases are critical but stable in the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. One patient is known to have other risk factors. As yet, neither person has any known links to other cases, to travel or to each other.
This means Scotland now has a total of:
- 65 confirmed cases, 8 travel-related and 57 non travel-related
- 1 probable case, which is non travel-related
- 30 possible cases, 6 travel-related and 24 non travel-related.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"We are still pursuing a containment strategy. That means we are still contact tracing for all probable and confirmed cases to try to slow down as far as possible the spread of infection.
"We're getting closer now to a situation where the containment strategy we have been pursuing up until now will evolve into something different. We are now seeing sporadic cases in the community, with clusters taking place around them. Therefore the message to the public is to be vigilant and alert and - crucially - to follow key hygiene advice, which becomes even more important now.
"There is no need for the public to be unduly worried. I understand that information about patients being admitted to intensive care will concern people, but, as we have said throughout, in any flu scenario small numbers of patients will develop complications and require medical intervention.
"However, the overwhelming majority of cases are experiencing mild symptoms and there is no reason to think that will change."
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1 Board breakdown of today's confirmed cases
Ayrshire and Arran - 4
Forth Valley - 6
Greater Glasgow and Clyde - 20
Highland - 32
Lothian - 3
2 Board breakdown of today's probable cases
Greater Glasgow and Clyde - 1
3 Board breakdown of today's possible cases
Dumfries and Galloway - 1
Forth Valley - 2
Greater Glasgow and Clyde - 6
Highland - 17
Lothian - 3
Tayside - 1