SWINE flu is spreading rapidly through the community in Basingstoke and north Hampshire.

Multiple cases of the H1N1 virus are now being reported by schools, workplaces and GP practices.

But NHS Hampshire has moved to reassure the public that “robust plans” are in place to deal with the outbreak – and a leading doctor is urging people not to panic.

Dr Nigel Watson, chief executive of Wessex Local Medical Committee, a statutory body representing GPs in Hampshire, said the virus is highly contagious and spreading rapidly.

He told The Gazette: “It is spreading much quicker than winter flu.”

Dr Watson urged people not to panic because the virus is mild and the number of deaths so far are low compared to past flu epidemics.

Christine Jackson, director of public health for NHS Hampshire, said: “Unless symptomatic, people should continue with their normal daily lives such as attending school or work.”

The increase in locally-reported cases comes after the death of a six-year-old schoolgirl in London and a GP in Bedfordshire brought the death toll nationally to 14.

This week, the World Health Organisation has cast doubt over the Government’s claims that the first vaccines would be available from next month.

As previously reported in The Gazette, a 21-year-old woman was diagnosed with the illness in Basingstoke last month, in what is believed to have been the first case in the town. This was followed by two cases among students in Queen Mary's College.

Accurate figures for the number of people who have caught swine flu are no longer available after doctors stopped testing every suspected infected person for the virus, with most diagnosis now happening over the telephone.

But there have been widespread reports of cases from workplaces, schools and colleges of people falling ill in and around Basingstoke.

Brighton Hill Community College, Everest Community College, Basingstoke College of Technology, Queen Mary's College, St Mark's Church of England Primary School in Hatch Warren and The Hurst Community College in Baughurst were among those where swine flu has affected people.

No school or college has closed because the Health Protection Agency believes the virus can no longer be contained.

Julie Rose, head teacher of Everest Community College in Oxford Way, Popley, Basingstoke said: "We can understand parents being concerned but my advice is that our school is operating as normal with the vast majority of children in as normal."

Major employers in Basingstoke, such as the hospital - the town's biggest employer with 2,800 staff - and Winterthur Way-based insurance firm AXA Winterthur Wealth Management, have also reported cases.

Paul Riddell, head of PR and Communications, said: "AXA continues to follow stringent hygiene precautions to minimise the spread of this disease, including the provision of anti-bacterial hand cleaners and the deep cleaning of work areas of individuals reported as suffering from swine flu."

Gina Hanafin, head of communications at Basingstoke hospital, said: "A small number of staff have been off work and have reported they have flu-like symptoms. This is comparable with our local community."

She added that in the last week, increasing numbers of patients have been turning up at the hospital with flu-like symptoms alongside other illnesses, with some requiring admission. GP practices have also experienced a surge of patients displaying signs of swine flu.

Des McCarthy, practice manager at The Gillies Health Centre, in Sullivan Road, Brighton Hill, said there had been a surge in cases since Monday. He said: "It's been keeping our duty doctor very busy."