Britain confirms three new swine flu cases

By Kate Kelland and Tim Castle

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain confirmed another three cases of swine flu on Wednesday, one in London, one in Birmingham and one in a 12-year-old girl in southwest England.

This brings to five the total number of cases in Britain and shows the virus's presence across the country.

All of those affected have recently been in Mexico, where the virus was first detected, and have mild symptoms, Prime Minister Gordon Brown told parliament.

The girl had been on the same flight from Mexico as the honeymooning Scottish couple who were confirmed as Britain's first two cases of swine flu on Monday, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said.

Her school, in Paignton, Devon is to be shut for seven days and all 230 pupils in her year have been given anti-virals as a precaution.

A 41-year-old woman from Redditch in Birmingham and a 22-year-old man from London were the other two new cases.

Johnson said a mass public health information campaign to prevent the spread of swine flu would begin on Thursday under the slogan "Catch It, Bin It, Kill It."

"Always use a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, throw away used tissues, and regularly wash your hands," he said. "They are the three most important messages."