First victim contracts swine flu in UK

The number of people with swine flu rose to 11 tonight as the first case of a person contracting the disease from within the UK was confirmed.

Graeme Pacitti, 24, tested positive for the virus after coming into contact with football team-mate Iain Askham, who fell ill after his honeymoon in Mexico.

Mr Askham and his new wife Dawn, from Polmont, near Falkirk, were released from hospital yesterday after spending five nights in isolation.

The latest case was a Year Seven schoolgirl at Downend School in South Gloucestershire, near Bristol.

The Department of Health confirmed two new cases today, one a woman from Merseyside who has recently returned from Mexico and the case in the South West.

Tests were continuing tonight on more than 600 suspected cases of the disease.