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Surgery declared safe after GP contracts swine flu

by
8 June 2009

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The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) has declared that a GP surgery in south Wales is safe in spite of one of its partners contracting swine flu.

Dr Eleanor Mair Williams, of the Skewen Surgery near Neath, fell ill at work last week after returning from a holiday in America. She was confirmed as being only the second person to have caught swine flu in Wales.

More than 21 of her close contacts, including surgery visitors, colleagues and friends, have been offered antiviral medicine to prevent them getting the flu and are all said to be well.

Dr Jorg Hoffmann, consultant in communicable disease control for the NPHS, said: “All necessary action has been taken to make sure it is safe to visit the Skewen Surgery without risk of catching swine flu.

“Dr Williams and other staff at the practice have worked closely with us after she was tested positive and I am grateful for their support in identifying the patients she had seen.”

Dr Williams said: “I am reassured that public health action has been taken to ensure the safety of my patients. I am recovering from a mild bout of flu and will only return to work when I am completely well and have completed the five days of treatment.”

Copyright © Press Association 2009

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