SWINE flu has been confirmed in the Ipswich area for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic.

SWINE flu has been confirmed in the Ipswich area for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Yesterday the case was confirmed in a patient who had recently returned from holiday, bringing the total number of swine flu cases in Suffolk to thirteen in total.

The victim is a family member of two Ipswich Borough Council employees, both of whom are currently working from home.

A spokesman for the council: “They have been working at home since the family member developed symptoms and swine flu was first suspected. The family member is not of school age.

“Both members of staff, who are based in Grafton House, are feeling fine and have NO symptoms at all.

“The decision to ask them to work from home was taken purely as a precautionary measure.

“Neither member of staff works in frontline services.

“The family member was seen by a doctor after returning from holiday abroad.”

Current medical advice suggests that people are considered to be potentially infectious in the 12 hours before symptoms are displayed.

The spokesman added: “In this care, the two members of staff have now not been in work for more than 60 hours and neither has displayed any symptoms so far.”

Nine of the confirmed swine flu cases in Suffolk have been in the area covered by NHS Suffolk, while one has been in the Lowestoft area, which is covered by NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney.