First UK swine flu couple leave hospital

Britain’s first two confirmed victims of swine flu left hospital today as it emerged they may have passed the virus on to someone they know.

Newlyweds Iain and Dawn Askham returned to their house in Polmont, near Falkirk, after five nights in an isolation ward.

However, as they were allowed home, it was revealed that one of their close contacts is now a “probable” case of swine flu.

If confirmed by follow-up tests, the unnamed male would be the UK’s first case of person-to-person spread of the disease.

The individual – officials would not say if he was an adult or a child – was originally given the all-clear but was re-tested when his symptoms continued.

He has received anti-viral drugs and has been treated at home.

The Askhams had been at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, since Saturday after falling ill following a Mexico honeymoon.

At around 4.30pm today, a black estate car pulled up outside their home and two people with coats over their heads – believed to be the couple – were escorted into the house.

They made no comment to the waiting media.

News of their release from hospital was given by First Minister Alex Salmond as he updated MSPs at First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood.

Mr Salmond said: “Iain and Dawn Askham, have now been released from Monklands Hospital and are very well indeed.”

At a media briefing in Edinburgh later, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said there were now 28 cases being investigated in Scotland – one classed as “probable” and the others as “possible”.

An earlier probable case in Glasgow was downgraded to possible after further tests.

But Ms Sturgeon revealed there was a new probable case – a male in the Forth Valley health board area who had been in contact with the Askhams.

He had initially been cleared but continued to show symptoms, leading to further tests which showed positive for Type A flu.

More tests are now being carried out to establish if it is swine flu.

Of the 27 possible cases, the Grampian health board area has five cases, as does Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Lanarkshire has four, Tayside and Forth Valley three each, Fife and Lothians have two each, and Ayrshire & Arran, Borders, and Highland have one each.

The new “probable” case is not being treated in hospital, said Dr Harry Burns, Scotland’s chief medical officer.

“My understanding is he is through the worst of it, he has had Tamiflu as a contact,” said Dr Burns.

“My understanding is he has not been in hospital but has been at home.”

The individual’s own contacts are now being followed up.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Obviously the circumstances around this individual do give us cause for concern – the symptoms don’t give us cause for concern, but the circumstances give us cause for concern.”