No, The Sun, that bastion (excuse the pun), of accurate journalism has reported that Ali Bastian and her partner have 'flu-like symptoms.

They have not reported that she has swine-flu, nor has it even been claimed that they've been checked for it. Yet somehow this is now a "swine flu scare".

The fact of the matter is that as things stand it is not swine flu, and therefore cannot be a "scare".

Clearly DS and many of its readers do not have the wherewithal to actually interpret what little facts are actually reported, preferring instead to parrot misleading headlines verbatim.

On DWTS, Derek Hough went down with flu last week and one of the other pros (Maks) stepped in to train and perform with his celeb as he'd been knocked out the week before. Can't see it being a problem if one of our pros goes down with flu as one of the others could step in. Not so easy if it's one of the celebs but they would probably be allowed a bye until the following week.

Probably just the yearly bad cold that all of them seem to come down with (Remember Tish close to throwing up in series 5?)Ian & Jade recently had one and Vincent was bad last week. People are still catching colds swine flu isn't the only game in town.

I who am never ill, have been put out of action for 3 days, ok from tomorrow i think.

Technically it's seven days after your first symptoms isn't it. It's fun dont you think!? Thank the lord for wireless internet, a laptop, and DS!

Apparently Swine Flu symptons strike like lightning, including diaorrhea, vomiting, 100 degrees temperature, muscle pains, severe headache. None of which I've got, touch wood. Went to work on Tuesday with endless sneezing, no doubt worrying colleagues. Going easy working at home for the past two days. As soon as my temperature subsides I am back like a Mexican jumping bean again.

New formation dance for Strictly - Dancing Pigs vs Dancing Kangaroos.

Or his rumba!

Interesting to see the BBC have said she can skip a week .

Or most of his dances come to that.

I'm being unkind. Witnessing the shambles that's passing for most of the dancing this year, Tom is beginning to look positively brilliant.

Though I still don't get his foxtrot.

That's more than they gave Ricky G so a bit inconsistent unless....she really does have the oink flu.

Condolences to the ill ones on here, hope you're all better soon.

Swine. Parrots.

I thought we had a veto on animal-vocabulary. It's offensive. Grasshoppers and kangaroos on Saturday. Now people are determined to introduce pigs.

Hm.

Thanks Nancy,

Not ready to kick the bucket yet.

You have my sympathies, lovelylissa - I'm in bed poorly as well just now. Get well soon (I find the odd little cupcake very medicinal )

Can you imagine the furore if, say, the two celebs who have consistently been at the bottom of the scoreboard both got flu and were off next week - then a better dancer would be forced to leave. I can't believe the BBC haven't got contingency plans but as soneone said earler, it doesn't seem as if they do. What does everybody think is the fairest way of dealing with the situation of anyone has to miss a week?

3 adults died in Ireland of swine flu today, making a total of 8 this year. 7,000 new cases were diagnosed this week alone, showing a steep rise.

Pregnant women are said to be 4 times as vulnerable to this infection. The young and the elderly will be given the 110,000 doses of H1N1 vaccines from November 2nd, but nationwide mass vaccination not until January. This pandemic sadly is for real.

Thank you

oooh I may do that - the tamiflu isn't making everything come back up today!yay!

Amazing what a night's sleep can do for body repair.

I've been back in the office today, going home now. Ready for the quickest of quicksteps and paso doblé with an olé.

Have a good weekend all who are well, poorly, or dying.