The number of people falling ill from swine flu may have doubled in England in the last week, according to the latest figures.
Across the country more than one out of every thousand people contacted a GP about flu symptoms, according to the Royal College of GPs. The exact estimate is 155 out of every 100,000 people, equivalent to 100,000 people.
The latest estimates were published as the government launched its national flu pandemic line – and questions were raised about its safety.
Worldwide the number of confirmed cases has passed 143,000 with more than 800 deaths. More than 40,000 cases have been reported in the USA and 14,000 in Australia.
Thousands have been reported in far eastern countries such as Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan.
And nearly 11,000 cases have been reported in Chile.
According the Nottingham University Qsurveillance system, the biggest hotspot in England is Tower Hamlets, with 792 GP flu consultations per 100,000 visits. Islington and Greenwich are next, with 488 and 441 cases, respectively. The next highest rate is Leicester (440).
UK chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said in the UK as a whole, 840 people were seriously ill in hospital with swine flu, and 63 are in intensive care.
Sir Liam also announced that the latest death toll stands at 26, but added that the Department of Health has reclassified the way it counts mortality. Some of last week’s deaths have been discounted after further investigation.
"Most people with no underlying conditions will get over the flu perfectly well," Sir Liam added.
* One British scientist says copper may hold the key to beating swine flu.
Biologist Professor Bill Keevil, of Southampton University, revealed his findings at a global conference on anti-viral treatments in Beijing, China.
Professor Keevil argues that copper surfaces, such as door handles, can prevent the spread of the influenza A H1N1 virus. He found that 75 per cent of the virus was destroyed after one hour on copper.
He said: "It is recognised that many infectious diseases are spread by hand contact and studies have now repeatedly shown that the use of copper as a surface material in key public places such as hospitals and food preparation areas offers the potential to substantially restrict and reduce the spread of harmful infection."
* Britain launched its on-line system for treating swine flu yesterday – amid controversy about the risks of using barely trained staff to diagnose illness.
The National Flu Service was launched yesterday to provide access to drugs on the phone and via the internet without the need to see a GP.
In the first few hours the website was receiving 2,600 hits a second and was on the brink of crashing. A telephone line 0800 1 513 100 was also set up.
A network of call centres, staffed by 1,500 people given about six hours training each, is using a checklist to diagnose swine flu and can issue a voucher number if drugs are required. Alternatively, people with possible symptoms can fill in an online checklist.
Once drugs are authorised, patients have to send a "flu friend", carrying ID for both individuals, to collect the medicine from a series of centres.
UK health secretary Andy Burnham said: "The National Pandemic Flu Service will give patients access to information and antivirals as quickly as possible. It will free up GPs so they can focus their efforts on helping those in at risk groups and patients with other illnesses.
"People can still speak to their GP if they are concerned. In fact – it is important to stress that people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and parents with children under the age of one should speak to their GP if they have symptoms.
"For the vast majority of people, swine flu has been mild. Some people find that they get better by staying in bed, drinking plenty of water and taking over the counter flu medication."
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