Swine flu cases near 2,000 figure

The government is stockpiling antivirals and ordering vaccine

The number of UK swine flu cases has increased to 1,984 after 224 more people in England and one in Northern Ireland were confirmed with the virus.

The overall total is expected to rise later when the latest figures for Scotland are released.

The current total is made up of 1,431 cases in England, 537 in Scotland, 13 in Northern Ireland and three in Wales.

Seven students have tested positive at Bristol University, two days after the first case was reported there.

'Localised cases'

The new cases in England include 144 in the West Midlands, 49 in London, 16 in the South East, six in both the East and in Yorkshire and Humber, and three in the North East.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "The localised cases of swine flu found in the UK have so far been generally mild in most people, but are proving to be severe in a small minority of cases.

"We are continuing to work to slow the spread of the disease and to put in place arrangements to ensure that the UK is well-placed to deal with this new infection."

The Health Protection Agency said there were a further 1,195 "clinically presumed" but unconfirmed cases in Scotland and 41 in England.