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Beverley teenager confirmed as swine flu victim
A TEENAGE boy from Beverley is one of the first victims of swine flu in the East Riding, it has been confirmed.
Matthew Fitzpatrick, who is a year 10 pupil at the fee-paying Hymers College, is one of two people in the East Riding who have been confirmed as having swine flu by the Health Protection Agency.
They are now being treated with anti-viral drugs and are thought to be responding well.
The two new cases bring the East Yorkshire total so far to three.
Bethany Barwell, 11, became the first Hull victim to be diagnosed, almost two weeks ago. She has now returned to school.
Matthew's dad Chris said: "He's making a good recovery."
The school in Hymers Avenue, west Hull, has issued advice to parents, telling them not to panic.
No other pupils have shown signs of illness, though "close contacts" of Matthew's will be offered anti-viral medication as a precautionary measure.
The school, which charges fees of up to 2,640 per term for secondary school pupils, informed children of the news during an assembly yesterday morning.
The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK currently stands at 6,538 – 136 of which are in the Yorkshire and Humber region, including the three in East Yorkshire.
East Yorkshire's director of public health, Dr Tim Allison, said: "Although we now have two confirmed cases of swine flu in East Yorkshire, I would like to stress there is still no need to panic."
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Weather for Driffield
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
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