LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- The office of the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair refused to comment Thursday on UK media reports that she has swine flu . Cherie Blair , wife of former British premier Tony Blair , is reportedly suffering from swine flu . A spokeswoman for Cherie Blair told CNN : `` This is a private matter and we will not be making a comment . '' Blair was reported to have contracted the H1N1 virus , commonly known as swine flu , on Tuesday , according to the British Press Association and various media reports . PA reported that she has been given a course of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu , and told to rest . Tony Blair and the couple 's four children have not shown any signs of being infected , PA added . Cherie Blair , who is a human rights lawyer , had been due to pick up an honorary degree at the Liverpool Hope University in north-west England Thursday . With 29 deaths and a dramatic increase in the number of cases , Britain has the worst swine flu figures in Europe . Official figures released Thursday by the UK 's Department of Health have revealed that swine flu will cause one in eight workers to stay off work in September , potentially crippling many businesses still struggling in the wake of the recession . General health practitioners in Britain have also reported a 50 percent increase in the number of people complaining from flu like symptoms . Doctors say they have also seen a significant rise in the number of children reported to be affected .
October : Family of ex British PM Tony Blair has suspected swine flu . Cherie Blair was given Tamiflu and told to rest , British media says . She had been due to pick up an honorary degree Thursday . Britain 's swine flu cases drop dramatically .