Seventh swine flu case diagnosed

The seventh swine flu case in Kent has been confirmed by health officials in a woman from the west of the county.

She had recently travelled to Kent from Australia and is being treated at home with antiviral medication, a NHS West Kent spokesperson said.

She is the fourth person affected by the virus in West Kent.

Dr Jackie Spiby, the trust's director of health improvement, said the woman's close contacts had been treated to prevent the disease spreading.

She added: "We want to reassure the public that spread of swine Flu in England is currently limited, and symptoms in the vast majority of confirmed cases are mild."

Anyone who has flu-like symptoms and has recently returned from swine flu-affected countries is being advised to stay at home and phone their doctor.

On Thursday the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global flu pandemic.