West Midlands at full capacity in trying to contain swine flu
The West Midlands has too many cases of swine flu to continue with a policy of containing the outbreak, the Government has said.
The region has sufficiently high numbers to move towards a policy of outbreak management, which will see people with swine flu clinically diagnosed rather than being confirmed by laboratory reports.
Swabbing will take place only for a small number of cases to keep track of the strength of the virus.
Doctors will also use the drug Tamiflu more selectively, targeting only those people with symptoms.
This means that anyone who has come into contact with somebody with swine flu will probably not receive the drug as a precaution.
Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson stressed that many parts of the country are still in the containment phase and are treating people prophylactically.
