Update on swine flu cases

30 June 2009

394 further patients under investigation in England have today been confirmed through laboratory testing with swine flu. Together with the 196 laboratory confirmed cases in Scotland reported yesterday (June 29 2009) by the Scottish Government, two further laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland announced by the Northern Ireland Executive and the nine laboratory confirmed cases in Wales announced by the National Public Health Service for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government earlier today, this brings the total number of laboratory confirmed UK cases identified since April 2009 to 6,538.

Region where sample was tested ¹	Laboratory confirmed new for June 30	Cumulative laboratory confirmed cases as at June 30 2009
East of England	14	326
East Midlands	13	124
London	109	1673
North East	2	45
North West	-	63
South East	21	523
South West	4	164
West Midlands	204	2308
Yorkshire & Humber	27	136
TOTAL ENGLAND	394	5362 ²
Northern Ireland	2	32
Scotland	196	1118
Wales	9	26
TOTAL UK	601	6538

1 Current testing arrangements mean that the regional breakdown of figures reflects the regional laboratory where samples are tested which may not always be in the region where the patient lives (as a result there may be some small variations in regional figures as cases are reassigned to their home regions).

2 England has also reported a cumulative today of 913 clinically presumed cases. NB: A number of clinically presumed cases will ultimately be laboratory confirmed following sample testing, and therefore there may be some duplication within the laboratory confirmed and clinically presumed numbers

Ends

Notes to editors
General infection control practices and good respiratory hand hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including swine flu. This includes:

Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of virus from your hands to face or to other people.
Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible.
Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
Making sure your children follow this advice.

Further information on swine flu is available on the Health Protection Agency's website at www.hpa.org.uk/swineflu.
For media enquiries only please contact the Health Protection Agency's Centre for Infections press office on

020 8327 7080
020 8327 6647
020 8327 7098
020 8327 7097
020 8327 6690

Last reviewed: 3 June 2010