Two new swine flu cases confirmed

Antivirals are being used to reduce symptoms and prevent further spread

Two new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in England by the Department of Health, taking the UK total to 109.

The new cases involve an adult and a child, both from the London area.

One of the patients was linked to a previously confirmed case while the other had been in contact with a "recently-returned traveller".

Globally, the number of swine flu cases has passed the 10,000 mark with 80 deaths. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said 41 countries were affected.

The WHO's latest figures reveal that the number of confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide now stands at 10,243.

Most of the new patients were in the United States, where 346 people were confirmed as having the virus. Japan reported 51 new cases.

Health officials from the WHO's 193 member states are continuing talks in Geneva on how to fight the disease.

The two new cases in England come after four people were confirmed as suffering from the virus on Tuesday. On Sunday alone, 14 new cases were confirmed in England.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said that so far all the cases in the UK have been mild.

He said: "Our strategy of containing the spread with antivirals appears to have been effective in reducing symptoms and preventing further spread of infection."