HEALTH chiefs urged people not to panic as eight more cases of swine flu were confirmed in Forth Valley.
The number of people in this area who have been infected with the AH1N1 flu strain now stands at 23.
Of the new cases confirmed at the weekend one is from the Falkirk area and four from the west of Stirling. Information on the latest three has n
ot been released
All are contacts of existing cases and are being treated at home. They are giving no cause for concern and their close contacts have been followed up.
Public health boss Dr Anne Maree Wallace said the priority remained isolating and containing cases of swine flu as they appear in the area.
She said: "Our strategy of asking close contacts to stay at home and take Tamiflu has helped us limit the spread."
But the director of public health warned: "We can expect more, especially as many local people have close links to more seriously-affected areas.
''It is reassuring that in the majority of cases, symptoms have been mild to moderate and last only a few days.
"Everyone can play their part in helping slow the spread of infection by following good personal hygiene such as washing hands with soap and water and using a tissue to cover their mouth and nose if they sneeze."
The director said there would be no panic response to the World Health Organisation's announcement of flu pandemic phase six.
Polmont newlyweds Iain and Dawn Askham were the first people in the UK to be confirmed with the virus after returning from their honeymoon in the Mexican resort of Cancun at the end of April.
Almost 6000 cases have now been confirmed in the UK and three people have died after contracting swine flu.
The Government has revealed it has enough antivirals to treat half the UK population, with orders to increase that to 80 per cent.
There are also orders for 226 million facemasks, 34 million respirators and 15.2 million courses of antibiotics.
Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "We are one of the best prepared countries in the world, but it is really important that we stay focused on doing everything we can to minimise the impact the flu will have."
Symptoms of swine flu in humans are usually similar to regular flu symptoms. Advice to the public is to watch out for fever, respiratory systems such as cough or runny nose, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue. If anyone shows these symptoms they should contact NHS 24 immediately on 08454 24 24 24.
