The number of deaths this winter from flu across the UK verified by the Health Protection Agency stands at 50, with 45 of these due to swine flu.

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"We would hope that everyone stays indoors as much as possible and that people carry out appropriate measures for protection, " the agency said on its verified account on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter.

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Any future and verified risk would place an obligation on the chief constable and other state agencies to provide protection, he accepted.

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