THE chances of picking up a new strain of swine flu in Guernsey are remote, according to the director of public health.

Dr Stephen Bridgman (pictured) said islanders were less likely than UK residents to become ill with the new strain identified in five people in Cardiff on Friday.

Those patients were on a unit that was treating people with severe underlying health conditions at the University Hospital of Wales.

They are thought to be the world’s first confirmed cases of person-to-person transmission of a Tamiflu-resistant strain.

‘It is of some concern, but they have got it under control,’ said Dr Bridgman.

‘The vast majority of people recover from swine flu, 99% will get better.’

He said that for ordinary people Tamiflu shortened the illness by a day.

But the department was continuing to strongly recommend that those in the at-risk group had the jab.