Swine flu infected on same Birmingham Airport flight
Sir Liam said: “Most people who get flu, even a new strain of flu, will make a good recovery. It’s a nasty illness but it’s short and they will recover.
“To put things in proportion, in any flu, even the seasonal flu, there are some deaths, often of elderly people and the very frail.
“What we will see is many more cases, but on the whole most people make a good recovery from flu.”
The move to phase five means the WHO believes a global outbreak is imminent. It also signals there is sustained human to human spread in at least two countries, and that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.
Sir Liam said: “At this stage it’s impossible to say what the death rate will be. I’m concerned, but I’m not alarmed. We have a very strong plan in place.
“This has been the top priority of the Government for some years now. I’m in a position where I feel we can reassure the public that we know what we are doing, we have a clear plan in place and we will do everything possible to mitigate the impact of this.”
