A WOMAN has been given the all-clear after being tested as a suspected case of swine flu at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

The hospital has declined to release any further details about the woman, other than to say she is in her forties.

The news came as hospital staff in Colchester were preparing to handle a potential outbreak of the Mexican flu.

Dr Tony Elston, consultant microbiologist at the hospital, said he had contacted all staff to remind them about flu plans.

Emergency planning for a flu pandemic began in 2004 and the hospital has built up a stockpile of anti-flu medication which could be used to treat the new strain.

Dr Elston said: “The emergency plan was developed for dealing with pandemic flu in 2004. It will work, regardless of what kind of flu it is.

“At the moment, we have written to staff to explain the situation. There are cases in Mexico and there is potential for cases here, too, because a lot of people go on holiday to Mexico or to the parts of America which are affected.

“The standard infection control procedures will come into play, taking the right specimens, which will then be sent to the labs in Cambridge to find out whether it is flu and what type it is.”

He added: “We have been reminding staff to read through the flu plan to make sure they know what is in it.”

He explained the Health Protection Agency had already issued advice to the NHS on what to look out for, including fever and other symptoms.

Sharon Asplin, spokesman for Essex County Council, said it had a pandemic flu plan of its own, as did the majority of its partner organisations. All Essex councils would have plans to enable them to carry on if there was an outbreak..

She added: “The council also has a dedicated team which is in close contact with primary care trusts and local health organisations.

“They are, in turn, in contact with the Health Protection Agency and the Department of Health who are monitoring the World Health Organisation.”