THE first two British cases of potentially deadly swine flu were confirmed last night with another seven people showing possible symptoms of the disease.

The two people, who had been on holiday in Mexico, were recovering in isolation at Monklands Hospital, in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Another seven people who had been in contact with them are showing mild symptoms, Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said.

More than 100 people have been killed in Mexico by the disease, which is caused when the H1N1 strain associated with pigs crosses over to the human population.

The UK cases were confirmed hours after representatives of all EU countries were summoned to Brussels for urgent talks on the outbreak as officials in Spain verified Europe’s first case.

Last night, Ms Sturgeon said that both patients in the UK were recovering well.

She said: “I would reiterate that the threat to the public remains low and that the precautionary actions we have taken over the past two days have been important in allowing us to respond appropriately and give us the best prospect of disrupting the spread of the virus.

“However, this is a developing situation, which we continue to monitor very closely, in conjunction with our colleagues in other parts of the UK and the World Health Organisation.”

The infected pair arrived in Scotland on April 21 and were admitted to hospital after showing symptoms.

The Scottish Government is encouraging people to take simple infection control precautions such as hand-washing and covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze.

It is liaising with NHS boards and has significant stockpiles of two anti-viral drugs – Tamiflu and Relenza – both of which have been effective in treating the H1N1 strain of swine flu in other countries. If a pandemic takes hold in the UK, health officials have calculated that about 2,500 could die in the North-East and about 560 people in North Yorkshire.

Health officials in the region have also been told that up to one in four of the population of the North-East (2.5 million) and North Yorkshire (569,000) could become ill over a few months, disrupting everyday life to an extent not seen since the war.

The NHS and other public sector organisations have drawn up contingency plans to ensure they keep functioning if a pandemic is declared.

Business leaders in the region are also being offered advice by the regional resilience civil servants, based at the Government office, in Newcastle.

Stephen Groves, strategic head of emergency preparedness with the North-East Strategic Health Authority (SHA), said: “Knowing there is an outbreak in Mexico, it would be remiss of us not to review our plans and to assess our level of preparedness for a pandemic.”

Mr Groves spent much of Monday talking to NHS officials across the region, checking that the plans were in place and ready to be activated if necessary.

He said: “We have had a number of teleconferences with primary care trust colleagues and the Department of Health. We are raising awareness across the region.”

Mr Groves said that, since Christmas, 14 pandemiclinked exercises had been held within the North-East NHS.

“We have exercised with our acute trusts, our GP colleagues, our colleagues in social care and from the mental health trusts,” he said.

North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust also sent representatives to a recent pandemic exercise.

Professor Stephen Singleton, regional director of public health for the North-East Strategic Health Authority, said: “We are in reasonably good shape with our plans and people know what their roles will be. This is because we rehearsed these plans and because the Government has taken them very seriously.”

Prof Singleton said it was known that a pandemic was inevitable at some stage in the future.

“What we don’t know is when it is going to happen,”

he added.

He confirmed that the SHA has stockpiled enough antiviral Tamiflu drug doses to treat 50 per cent of the population of the region.

Meanwhile, tour operators and airports in the region say there has been no signs of panic among travellers.

Kathleen Rooney, travel consultant for Thomson, in Darlington, said: “We have had a few queries from people wanting advice on whether or not it’s safe for them to travel.

“But once they have been reassured they are fine, and we have certainly had no cancellations.”

Rebecca Slater, from Hays Travel in Newcastle, said the office had been surprisingly quiet.

“We thought we’d have a few people trying to cancel their bookings, but that just hasn’t been the case, which is great news,” she said.

A spokeswoman for Thomson and First Choice said: “Thomson and First Choice currently operate to Cancun, in Mexico, and can advise that there are no confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu among its customers.

“The health and safety of our customers is paramount, and Thomson and First Choice are working closely with the FTO (Federation of Tour Operators) and all other relevant authorities monitoring the swine flu outbreak.

“The FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) advises that visitors to Mexico should consult a doctor immediately if they show signs of flu-like symptoms.”

A Thomson helpline has been set up for concerned customers on 0871-231-5704.

Managers at Newcastle International Airport are taking advice from the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

The move comes as weekly flights to Cancun are scheduled to start operating with Thomson from May 4.

An airport spokeswoman said: “Newcastle International Airport will continue to work with the HPA and will take immediate action if official travel and health advice changes.

“Passengers returning from a visit to an affected area are advised to monitor their health closely for seven days.

“If, during this period, they develop a feverish illness accompanied by one or more of a cough, sore throat, headache or muscle aches, they should stay at home and contact their GP by phone or seek advice from NHS Direct (0845-4647).”