Further swine flu cases confirmed

Two cases have been confirmed at Heartlands Hospital

Two patients at a Birmingham hospital have become the latest to test positive for swine flu in the West Midlands.

Heartlands Hospital said one person was being treated while the other had been discharged. Staff who came into contact with the patients have been tested.

Another patient remains in intensive care with the virus in Birmingham City Hospital.

On Thursday, NHS West Midlands said there were ten new cases of confirmed swine flu across the region.

That brought the number of confirmed cases to 171.

The World Health Organisation has confirmed the outbreak as the first global flu pandemic in 40 years.

The H1N1 strain has spread to at least 74 countries.

Youngsters isolated

Two other patients have been treated for swine flu at Birmingham City Hospital.

One is in a less serious condition and the other has been discharged.

At Birmingham Children's Hospital, two children and two staff have the virus.

A spokeswoman said the youngsters had been isolated while being treated and the two members of staff were recovering at home.

Three schools in Handsworth and one in the Small Heath area of the city remain closed after confirmed outbreaks.

St James, Birchfield and Heathfield primary schools are near to Welford Primary School in Handsworth, which was at the centre of an outbreak affecting 96 children and adults.

Welford has since reopened after being deep cleaned.

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