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Update on A(H1N1) flu virus
11/06/2009
The World Health Organisation has taken the decision to move to Pandemic Alert Level 6.
Responding to the move, Deputy First Minister and Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said that Scotland remains amongst the best prepared countries in the world to deal with pandemic flu.
Ms Sturgeon stressed that the decision did not mean that the virus was becoming more serious and should not give cause for alarm.
She said:
"The vast majority of people contracting the virus are experiencing relatively mild symptoms, with only a small number of people developing complications.
"A move to Level 6 is not a verdict on the severity of the virus. It does not mean that the WHO thinks the virus has become more serious. It simply means that the extent of global spread now fulfils the definition of a pandemic.
"A move to Level 6 means that countries need to be ready to implement pandemic plans immediately.
"In Scotland, as we are already operating at a heightened state of readiness, a move to Level 6 will not trigger any material change in our response."
It was also confirmed today that Scotland has 26 new confirmed cases of influenza A (H1N1). This brings the total number of cases in Scotland to 337.
The majority of the new cases (18) are in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. There are three new cases in NHS Highland, two in NHS Lothian and three in NHS Lanarkshire.
Nine people are being treated in hospital, all of them in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
There is currently one probable case - in NHS Grampian - and a further 659 possible cases being investigated.
A pupil at St Vincent's Primary in Carnwadric, Glasgow, has also tested positive for the virus. As a result the composite P5/P6 class are being sent home for a week and offered Tamiflu.
In addition, a peripatetic music teacher from North Lanarkshire is a confirmed case. As a result, 41 pupils at Carluke High, St Andrews and St Brides, Calderglen High and Craighead School have been asked to stay at home for a week and offered Tamiflu.
Earlier today, Ms Sturgeon also updated MSPs on the latest situation with H1N1.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"Scotland is not unique in seeing a continuing rise in cases - this is happening in countries around the world. As in Scotland, the vast majority of people are experiencing relatively mild symptoms.
"We are still working hard to slow the spread of the virus and this policy has been successful in limiting transmission of the virus.
"However in areas where we have larger clusters and where there is evidence of community transmission - such as in Dunoon, Glasgow and Paisley - we are introducing greater flexibility to our approach. This will better target the measures for containing the virus towards those who are at greatest risk."
Public health officials will decide which areas of the country will be subject to the new approach, which includes:
- Clinical diagnosis rather than laboratory testing where there is a high probability - due to close contact with confirmed cases - that symptomatic people are positive
- More targeted use of antivirals in those who do not have the virus - restricting their use to household contacts or, in a school, to those at surrounding desks
- Restricting contact follow-up of confirmed cases to those most at risk
Read the Health Secretary's full statement
The breakdown of cases by health boards is as follows:
Confirmed
Ayrshire and Arran - 6
Fife - 5
Forth Valley - 10
Greater Glasgow and Clyde - 186
Highland - 114
Lothian - 8
Lanarkshire - 8
Probable
Grampian - 1
Possible
Ayrshire and Arran - 6
Borders - 2
Dumfries and Galloway - 1
Fife - 5
Forth Valley - 13
Greater Glasgow and Clyde - 530
Highland - 56
Lanarkshire - 41
Lothian - 2
Tayside - 3