PATIENTS are reportedly in isolation with swine flu at Hereford County Hospital.

Public Health England is keen to emphasise that swine flu is now considered a normal, seasonal flu strain.

Dr Richard Pebody, head of flu surveillance at Public Health England, said: "Swine flu was the unofficial name given to the new strain of influenza (flu) that was responsible for the flu pandemic in 2009 to 2010.

"However this specific strain of influenza - A(H1N1)pdm09 – is now circulating each year and is considered a normal seasonal flu strain, which is covered by the annual seasonal flu vaccine."

Spokesman for Wye Valley NHS Trust Fiona Gurney said there continues to be cases of flu across the country as expected for this time of year but she did not confirm or deny whether there were patients with swine flu at Hereford Hospital.

She said: "Patients admitted to hospital with symptoms of influenza types A and B are routinely isolated as a precautionary measure, as part of the trust’s procedures for controlling communicable diseases.

"It is important to note that the H1N1 strain of influenza A is now the dominant strain of ‘seasonal flu’ and is managed and treated in line with other flu strains."