100,000 swine flu cases a day warning

Health Secretary Andy Burnham today warned swine flu cases could rise to over 100,000 a day by the end of August. The warning came in a Commons statement.

Mr Burnham stressed this was only a projection, but said scientists expected to see "rapid rises" in the number hit by the virus.

"Cases are doubling every week and on this trend we could see over 100,000 cases per day by the end of August."

Mr Burnham confirmed there were now 7,447 confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK and a significant number of people had been hospitalised.

His statement came as Shropshire Council confirmed two members of staff at Radbrook Primary School in Shrewsbury have been tested for swine flu. The school remained open today.

A council spokesman said: "Two members of staff have displayed flu-like symptoms and the results of the clinical tests are awaited.

"The school is following advice from the Health Protection Agency to keep the staff members at home for seven days from the outset of their symptoms.

"A letter has been issued to all parents by the school."

Meanwhile a sports centre at the site of another Shrewsbury school is to re-open tomorrow after being closed when a male staff member was confirmed as having the virus. The Mary Webb Sports Centre in Pontesbury was shut on Tuesday and a "deep clean" of the premises was carried out.

Dothill Primary School in Wellington, Telford, has also stayed open after a boy at the school was confirmed with the illness, one of eight confirmed cases in the Telford & Wrekin borough.