Swine flu fight changes focus

EFFORTS will switch from containing the spread of swine flu to lessening its impact on the population from next week, the Department of Health announced last night.

The move follows confirmation of 104 cases of the H1N1 virus in the last two and a half months, with around half identified in the past week. Up to eight cases a day are being confirmed.

It also reflects the change in Britain where health authorities are no longer trying to trace contacts of those who test positive for swine flu and offering anti-virals such as Tamiflu because of the spread of the disease.