AFP: Chief medical officer Liam Donaldson accepted that the rise in new cases -- almost double last week's figure of 55,000 -- was a "substantial increase" but stressed the majority of patients suffer only mild symptoms.
SHOOT: This article, saying cases are at 55 000 per week, was posted 20 hours ago. The number has doubled again to 100 000 in the past week:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/5894771/Cases-of-swine-flu-have-doubled-to-100000-in-one-week.htmlAFP:Britain is the worst-hit country in Europe by the A(H1N1) virus, which was first identified in Mexico. It gave up attempts at containment early on and is now focusing on the best way to treat infected patients.
LONDON — A new government website launched to help identify swine flu symptoms and order drugs crashed after it was swamped by over nine million people, it was reported Friday.
At least 30 deaths have so far been linked to swine flu here, 26 in England and four in Scotland, according to the latest update from the Department of Health.
The figure is unchanged on the previous week. A further 840 people are in hospital in England, including 63 in intensive care, chief medical officer Liam Donaldson told reporters.
The concern felt by many over swine flu was reflected in what the government said was "unprecedented demand" for the new site, which launched at 3:00 pm (1400 GMT) and was soon receiving 2,600 hits per second or 9.3 million an hour.
The website crashed within minutes of launching, according to media reports, but appeared to be working normally late Thursday.
Around 1,500 people are working on the telephone hotline, which can take over 200,000 calls per day.
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