Swine flu cases soar as schools return

The number of suspected swine flu cases has

The rise was mainly seen in school-age children,
who have recently returned for the beginning of
autumn term.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson warned
that the rise in the number of people being seen by GPs for flu-like illness could be the start of "an upturn" in the spread of the virus.

The number of suspected cases has risen from
just over 4,000 last week to 5,200 this week. The
increase is enough for experts to suspect that the virus is taking hold again. At peak levels more than a month ago there were about 100,000 cases.

Experts said a second wave of swine flu could hit
in the next three weeks and be "at its peak" in the capital between the beginning of next month and the end of November.

Today's figures suggest the new wave may have started early.

GP consultation rates for flu-like illness in England increased by half this week to 12.9 patients per 100,000 — compared with 8.6 the week before.

A second petting farm has closed after an E.coli
outbreak at its sister farm left 14 children ill in hospital.

Horton Park Children's Farm, in Epsom was closed because of hygiene concerns.