Listen
Influenza A(H1N1) update
04/06/2009
Scotland has 31 new confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1), bringing the total number of cases to 119.
None of the new cases are travel-related. Twenty-one of the new cases are in the NHS Highland area, which covers Dunoon.
Of the four patients who were in intensive care, the condition of the 37-year-old man at Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary has improved and he has been transferred to the hospital's High Dependency Unit.
In Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital, three patients remain in intensive care. The 45-year-old man is in a critical but stable condition while the 23-year-old woman is now stable. Both are from Paisley.
The remaining patient - a 38-year-old woman - is still in a critical condition.
A further confirmed case - 44-year-old woman - is in the High Dependency Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Among today's confirmed cases is a 23-month-old toddler from Lothian. The child is being treated at home and is not seriously ill.
There are a further 56 possible cases under investigation.
A further two primary schools in Cowal will also close today for seven days as work to slow the spread of the virus continues. The schools are Kirn Primary and Inellan Primary.
A P5 class at Kirn Primary had previously been excluded but following an additional two confirmed cases in P7, public health officials have advised closing the entire school. Tamiflu will be offered to P7 pupils.
A P7 pupil from Innellan has also now been confirmed with the virus. As the school is a small, open-plan school the decision has been taken to close the entire school. Tamiflu will be offered to all pupils.
These school closures are both believed to relate to a multi-school P7 trip. The 70 pupils and 20 staff who attended the event will all be offered Tamiflu.
Third year pupils at Paisley Grammar School are also being sent home for seven days. All 230 pupils will be offered Tamiflu.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"We have always said that we expected to see an increase in cases in Scotland. But we are still committed to doing all we can to slow the spread of the virus which is why a further two schools will close today.
"It's good news today that the 37-year-old man in the Victoria Infirmary is now out of intensive care. Hopefully he, and the others in hospital, will continue to recover.
"Public health officials carry out robust risk assessments with regard to every school where there is a confirmed case and these are kept under review. Where circumstances change, the advice may also change - as has happened at Kirn Primary.
"A number of young children have been affected by the virus. Fortunately their symptoms are mild and I'd like to reassure parents that there is no cause for undue concern. We should, however, all remain vigilant and follow good basic hygiene procedures."
Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns said:
"We are continuing to see an increase in the number of cases in Scotland - as we had expected. The virus is very much following the expected pattern.
"When it comes to making decisions about closing a school or whether to go ahead with a large public gathering, public health is always the primary concern.
"If you are organising a large public event and have any concerns, then you should contact public health officials for advice. In the vast majority of cases the event will be able to go ahead."
The breakdown of cases by health board area is as follows:
Confirmed:
- Ayrshire and Arran - 4
- Fife - 1
- Forth Valley - 6
- Greater Glasgow and Clyde - 37
- Highland - 67
- Lothian - 4
Possible:
- Ayrshire and Arran - 3
- Borders - 1
- Fife - 1
- Forth Valley - 8
- Greater Glasgow and Clyde - 11
- Highland - 29
- Lanarkshire - 1
- Lothian - 1
- Tayside - 1