Swine flu now hitting all areas

The swine flu outbreak has resulted in a four-fold increase in the number of people contacting health services in Wolverhampton, a leading doctor said today.

The news comes after the death of a healthy six-year-old girl from the disease.

Dr Adrian Phillips, director of public health for Wolverhampton, said the surge had taken place over the past five weeks and the NHS was experiencing the same level of activity it saw for the winter vomiting bug.

He said there was no longer any point in closing city schools as the disease was so widespread throughout the community.

Further tests were today being carried ou to determine the cause of death of schoolgirl Chloe Buckley, from West Drayton, West London.

She had appeared healthy before contracting the illness and her death, along with that of Bedfordshire GP Dr Michael Day, takes the number of UK deaths linked to swine flu to 17.

Dr Phillips today assured families in Wolverhampton that most cases were mild.

But he said: "I would urge anyone who is short of breath or experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting to contact their GP."

There are now more than 10,000 confirmed cases across the country.