Bailiwick has 10 swine flu cases

The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the Bailiwick of Guernsey has doubled to 10, health officials say.

There are nine cases in Guernsey and one in Sark. Five men and five women, most aged between 18 and 45, were affected and all have now recovered.

The Health Department said the five latest cases had been confirmed within the past week.

Laboratory tests were not to be used to diagnose any future cases, it added. GPs are to use clinical observation.

We had planned for a more virulent virus Dr Stephen Bridgman, director of public health

GPs are following their UK counterparts by using clinical observation rather than laboratory testing, the Health Department said.

Routine swabbing of suspected cases was to stop, and the department's infection control team was to no longer trace close contacts and provide antiviral drugs to limit spread, it said.

The director of public health, Dr Stephen Bridgman, said some measures were being reduced because they were no longer appropriate and the focus had to move to the treatment of individual patients.

He said: "All this advice reflects the latest evidence, that people suffering from swine flu are experiencing a mild-moderate illness in the vast majority of cases, and usually recover, even without medical treatment, within a few days to a week.

"We had planned for a more virulent virus, and this latest advice represents a proportionate response, while continuing to try to reduce the rate of spread within the island."

Good hygiene

However, there has been a large increase in flu-like illness seen by doctors in the past week, with more than 100 cases seen, compared with 20 two weeks ago.

The department said people who felt unwell with flu-like symptoms should go home from work.

It said the Social Security Department had produced forms, available online and at the department's offices, to allow self-certification for absence through flu illness over this period.

People are also being encouraged to keep using measures to reduce the spread of infection, including good hygiene.