Swine flu toll mounts with four more cases

A FURTHER four cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the Lothians since Saturday, according to the Scottish Government.

Laboratory tests returned on Saturday, Sunday and Monday confirmed a further 196 cases of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in Scotland, taking the country's total to 1,118.

Of the new cases reported, 18 are related to travel with 178 non-travel related. There are currently six people receiving treatment for the virus in hospital.

The figures were released following the death of a second person from the disease in Scotland. The unnamed 73-year old died in the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Paisley on Saturday. The NHS has said he had serious underlying medical conditions, and had been treated in the hospital's intensive care unit for 15 days.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "The medical evidence and patterns seen in the early stages offer some reassurance that in the majority of cases symptoms are mild, with recovery for people in otherwise good health generally straightforward."