Swine flu scare for Southend Hospital patient

Although tests revealed the patient did not have the deadly disease, residents across south Essex are being warned to monitor their health closely, especially if they have visited Mexico recently.

The UK is on red alert over the killer virus, which has already claimed the lives of more than 100 people in Mexico.

Pat Stone, spokeswoman for Southend Hospital, added: “We can confirm a patient who had recently returned from Mexico came to the hospital on Friday with flu-like symptoms.

“The patient was checked over and as there were no complications, was allowed home later that day. The hospital works closely and regularly with its healthcare partners in the community to ensure all its emergency planning procedures, including planning for a flu pandemic, are in place.”

Health trust, NHS South West Essex, which provides health services to people across Basildon, Billericay, Thurrock and Brentwood, is also calling on those at risk of the virus to be vigilant, but stressed no cases of the flu have yet been confirmed in England.

Experts from the trust say anyone who may have visited Mexico, where the flu originated, or who think they could be at risk, should stay at home and contact their GP if they get a feverish illness accompanied by one or more of a cough, sore throat, headache or muscle aches.

Dr Katherine Gronqvist, director of public health at NHS South West Essex, said: “In light of the developing situation around flu outbreaks in Mexico, the USA and some other countries, NHS South West Essex has begun rolling out the Health Protection Agency’s guidance to ensure frontline staff are prepared should cases be confirmed in the UK.”

The Government’s chief medical officer has warned Britain will inevitably be hit by cases of swine flu at some point.

Sir Liam Donaldson said plans were in place to prevent the spread of the disease if it reached the UK.

The UK has a £500million stockpile of anti-viral drugs to kill off the deadly strain.