Eight people have been cleared of having swine flu after coming into contact with Scottish couple Iain and Dawn Askham.

The Scottish Government revealed the latest figures on the health scare. It said on Wednesday another 24 suspected cases have come to the attention of health officials in Scotland.

Sixty-two cases – including people with the mildest flu-like symptoms – have been investigated in Scotland since the weekend, with only the Polmont couple having contracted the H1N1 strain of the virus. The couple are recovering well at Monklands Hospital, in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire.

Meantime, the first cases of the flu were confirmed on Wednesday in England. A 12-year-old girl from Paignton in Devon, a 41-year-old woman from Redditch and a 22-year-old man from south London have contracted the disease.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Health Secretary, told ministers test results were still outstanding on another person connected with newlywed couple. In total, 32 of the 45 official cases of suspected swine flu in Scotland were awaiting results.

The Ashkams came into contact with workmates and friends after they returned on April 21 from their honeymoon in Mexico, the epicentre of the health crises. Twenty-three people who know the Ashkams fell ill; all but one has received the all-clear from medical experts.

The remaining 32 cases in Scotland involve individuals who mainly have links to Mexico. They include the 24 new suspected cases, seven from a group of 14 who were identified on Tuesday, and the one with a link to the Askhams.

Ms Sturgeon said: "The test results therefore suggest that to date, as far as we know, we have managed to prevent the spread of infection within Scotland."

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Of the 14 cases reported on Tuesday five tested negative and two have been "declassified", meaning they are no longer suspect cases.

The additional 24 cases across Scotland now under investigation cover the following health boards: Ayrshire and Arran, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Grampian, Lanarkshire, Highland and Lothian areas.

Ms Sturgeon said: "All of these people are people with travel connections to Mexico or other affected areas.

The number of contacts of the Askhams being tested rose to ten because one of the 14 possible cases disclosed on Tuesday was not travel-related but a contact of the Askhams, she said.

"Let me stress that these are cases being treated and investigated on a precautionary basis.

"They are not confirmed swine flu cases."

Ms Sturgeon also told parliament she had spoken to Mr Askham on the telephone.

"I am pleased to report that they are continuing to recover in hospital."

A stockpile of anti-viral drugs had been established and Ms Sturgeon said: "We have sufficient doses available to us to treat half the population if necessary."

Ms Sturgeon's statement to parliament came as a second couple who became ill after returning from a Mexico honeymoon remained in quarantine in their home.

Pete and Jenny Marshall said they had been told to stay in their house in Edinburgh, along with friend Gemma O'Brien, as they wait to find out if they have contracted the virus.

The Marshalls were in the Mexico holiday resort area of Cancun around the same time as the Askhams.

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government was working "closely and constructively" with Westminster and the Wales and Northern Ireland devolved administrations.

She reiterated hygiene advice such as frequent hand-washing and using tissues to cover the mouth and nose in coughs and sneezes.

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old girl who was on the same flight from Mexico as the Askhams, has been diagnosed with swine flu. The Year 7 pupil from Paignton in Devon fell ill after returning from her holiday. Her school has been closed as a precaution. She and two adults were being treated after showing mild symptoms of the illness.

Other countries with confirmed cases of swine flu are Mexico, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Spain and Israel. In the US, government officials said swine flu killed a 23-month-old child in Texas, the first death reported outside Mexico.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are continuing to advise "against all but essential travel to Mexico".