Teens among new swine flu cases

Advice about swine flu has been distributed

Four more swine flu cases have been confirmed in Wales, taking the total number of people affected to 34.

Among the latest cases are two teenagers, one from Monmouthshire and one from Newport, who have both been offered antiviral medicine.

Another is that of a woman, 23, from Merthyr Tydfil county, whose illness is linked to travel from Mexico.

A man, 35, from Caerphilly county is also a confirmed case. All four new cases are said to be recovering well.

The 18-year-old Monmouthshire woman is said to be a direct contact of a confirmed case in Exeter, while the 19-year-old Newport man's illness is linked to travel from the USA.

So far 238 people have been under investigation for swine flu in Wales and two have been treated at hospital but since discharged.

Twenty-four people are still under investigation and swine flu has been clinically-presumed in 19 cases, including 11 new ones. Clinically presumed cases are household contacts of confirmed cases who have symptoms themselves.

The 11 include a seven-year-old boy from Newport and a 75-year-old woman from Rhondda Cynon Taf.

HYGIENE ADVICE

Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue where possible

Dispose of tissues promptly and carefully

Wash hands frequently with soap and water

Clean hard surfaces such as door handles regularly with a normal cleaning product

Help your children to follow hygiene advice

Source: National Public Health Service for Wales/Welsh Assembly Government

There are now 6,933 laboratory confirmed cases in the UK, including 5,704 in England, 1,162 in Scotland and 33 in Northern Ireland.

Three people in the UK with swine flu have died. All had underlying health conditions.

Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell, said: "The number of cases is continuing to increase in Wales. This is to be expected given the increase in other parts of the UK.

"People should not be alarmed by this increase, but it is natural for people to be apprehensive.

"So far, in the UK and other countries where the virus is circulating, in the majority of cases, it remains mild, but proving more severe in a small number of people, and three people have died."

NHS Direct can be contacted on 0845 46 47.