Further jump in swine flu cases

The affected patients are being treated with antivirals

Scotland has 31 new confirmed cases of swine flu, bringing the total number to 119, the Scottish Government has said.

Among the new cases is a 23-month-old toddler in Lothian, who is not seriously ill and is being treated at home.

None of the new cases are travel-related, and 21 are in the NHS Highland area, which covers Dunoon.

Three patients remain in intensive care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

A 38-year-old woman at the hospital was said to be in a "critical" condition, while a 45-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were described as "critical but stable" and "stable" respectively.

A further confirmed case - a 44-year-old woman - is in the high dependency unit at the Royal Alexandra.

Swine flu victim Michael Frizzell speaks about his recovery

But a 37-year-old man who had been in intensive care at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow has improved, and he has been transferred to the hospital's high dependency unit.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said that Kirn and Inellan primary schools, near Dunoon in Argyll's Cowal peninsula, have been closed for seven days.

The area has been the centre of a large cluster of swine flu cases in recent days.

A P5 class at Kirn Primary had previously been excluded but following an additional two confirmed cases in P7, public health officials advised closing the entire school.

A P7 pupil from Inellan has also now been confirmed with the virus. The school closures are both believed to relate to a multi-school P7 trip. The 70 pupils and 20 staff who attended the event will all be offered Tamiflu.

Third year pupils at Paisley Grammar School are also being sent home for seven days and offered Tamiflu.

Ms Sturgeon said: "We have always said that we expected to see an increase in cases in Scotland. But we are still committed to doing all we can to slow the spread of the virus which is why a further two schools will close today.

We have always said that we expected to see an increase in cases in Scotland Nicola Sturgeon Health Secretary

"It is good news today that the 37-year-old man in the Victoria Infirmary is now out of intensive care. Hopefully he, and the others in hospital, will continue to recover.

"Public health officials carry out robust risk assessments with regard to every school where there is a confirmed case and these are kept under review. Where circumstances change, the advice may also change - as has happened at Kirn Primary."

Ms Sturgeon said although a number of young children had been affected by the virus, there was no need for parents to be unduly concerned.

'Expected pattern'

Harry Burns, the chief medical officer for Scotland, said: "We are continuing to see an increase in the number of cases in Scotland - as we had expected. The virus is very much following the expected pattern.

"When it comes to making decisions about closing a school or whether to go ahead with a large public gathering, public health is always the primary concern.

"If you are organising a large public event and have any concerns, then you should contact public health officials for advice. In the vast majority of cases the event will be able to go ahead."

The number of cases of swine flu in Scotland has risen seven-fold in a week, and the country now accounts for a quarter of all cases of the virus in the UK.