THE 22-year-old Barnet man with swine flu was admitted to hospital last night, the Secretary of State for Health has confirmed.

Alan Johnson confirmed that the man has been moved from his home, where he was being treated, to hospital in response to a Commons question from Barnet MP Theresa Villiers.

Ms Villiers had raised concern over the extent to which Barnet Primary Care Trust and Barnet Council were being briefed on the situation.

Mr Johnson said: "Today has been difficult, because the cases were reported around the late morning and midday, and the gentleman concerned is now being treated in hospital.

"We will try to resolve any breakdown in communications."

Mr Johnson also told the Commons that he believes the World Health Organisation may raise the level of alert to Phase 6, it's highest state of alert, within weeks.

The organisation is currently in Phase 5, which is a strong sign that a pandemic is imminent. Phase 6 will indicate that a global pandemic is underway.

It was confirmed that a 22-year-old man from Barnet had tested positive for swine flu yesterday.

He had recently travelled to Mexico, where the first cases of human swine flu in the outbreak were reported.