THE largest daily rise in swine flu cases in Scotland since the outbreak began was revealed yesterday, amid warnings from one of the country's leading bacteriologists that the overall UK tally is probably at least "double" the official figure.
The Scottish Government said there were 35 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 189.
They included two healthcare workers at a Renfrewshire hospital where several people are being treated for the virus. It means five me
dical staff have now contracted the virus.
Scotland now accounts for nearly one in three of all British cases of the H1N1 infection.
Of the new cases, 22 are in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde region, 10 in the Highland health board area, two in Lanarkshire, and a single case in Fife. Only the latter is travel-related.
Some 11 people continue to be treated in hospital, three of whom are in intensive care.
They include a 38-year-old woman from Glasgow who gave birth last week almost three months early.
She was described as being in a critical but stable condition yesterday, while her baby – which does not have swine flu – is in a stable condition at Glasgow's Yorkhill Hospital.
A 45-year-old man from Paisley is also in a critical but stable condition at the Royal Alexandra, while a 23-year-old woman is said to be stable and improving.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said there were an additional three probable cases and a further 210 possible cases under investigation. She said: "Scotland is continuing to see an increase in cases of H1N1 which is in line with what we would expect to see with this virus and what has happened in other countries.
"We are continuing to do all we can to slow the spread of the virus and I would urge everyone to play their part by continuing to follow good hygiene practices, paying particular attention to handwashing."
Professor Hugh Pennington, a bacteriologist at Aberdeen University, said the number of swine flu cases in the UK was probably double the official figure.
"I think it would be reasonable to say we've got at least twice as many cases as we know about," he said. "All the experts think that the numbers we've got are a significant underestimate."
In Renfrewshire, almost 200 first-year pupils at Paisley Grammar school have been told to stay away from classes next week.
Already, the entire S3 year has been advised to stay away from the school.
On Friday, Lochgoilhead Primary and Dunoon Grammar closed for seven days. Third-year pupils from Dunoon Grammar had already been sent home from classes.
In addition, Kirn Primary, Innellan Primary, Toward Primary and Appletrees Nursery in Rothesay are closed and Annette Street Primary in Glasgow is closed until tomorrow.
Another 15 cases were confirmed in England yesterday, bringing the UK total to 557.
One case has been confirmed at Europe's biggest Army base. The soldier, based at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, got the virus after coming into contact with another infected person away from the base.
