18 000 new H1N1 cases

There have been 18 000 new cases of swine flu in England over the last week as the country experiences the second wave of swine flu.

Liam Donaldson says the rate of infection is much lower than had been feared.

British health officials no longer test every person suspected to have swine flu, but estimates are that 18 000 people caught it last week, up from 14 000 the previous week and 9 000 the week before.

Donaldson said he believed the government could roll out a vaccination program before the flu spreads rapidly around the country.