London, July 20: Britain’s Health Secretary Andy Burnham urged people not to panic on Monday over H1N1 flu, as he sought to clear up apparent confusion over advice for pregnant women.
Britain is the worst-hit country in Europe, with estimates of 55 000 new cases of the A(H1N1) virus last week.
Speaking ahead of a statement on the pandemic to parliament, Burnham said people should go about their daily lives, but take precautions such as washing their hands regularly.
He added that it was up to airlines whether to turn back passengers with H1N1 flu symptoms, after British Airways and Virgin Atlantic said they had measures in place to do so.
Burnham also said pregnant women might exercise greater caution about going to places with large crowds – but that was up to them.
Over the weekend there had been reported suggestions that women should consider not getting pregnant, but the minister denied this.
“There isn’t conflicting advice. The advice has been clear all along that women who are pregnant should take extra precautions as they would anyway,” he told GMTV.
“They should really follow the advice about hand hygiene, they should consider about avoiding crowded places,” he added.
In parliament, Burnham was expected to provide the latest information on the outbreak ahead of the launch of a new flu hotline at the end of the week.
“It really is important to keep everything in perspective. This is a mild virus… and there have been thousands of people already who have had it and made a quick recovery,” Burnham told GMTV television.
“We have got the best preparations in place to deal with this and we are dealing with it fantastically well.
“Our plans are – according to the World Health Organisation, not me – the best preparations in the world.”
He told BBC radio: “People need to get on and enjoy their summer but obviously taking precautions because of the situation we are in.
“Life goes on and we have got to get on with our daily lives. People at particular risk will consider whether they want to take extra care and that’s the right thing.”
Health officials said on Thursday that 29 people had died in Britain after contracting H1N1 flu.
England’s chief medical officer Liam Donaldson also said that in a worst case scenario, around a third of Britain’s population could be infected and 65 000 killed.
—Agencies