Swine flu

Where to get information and help.

National advice

The vast majority of swin flu cases prove to be mild, can be treated and people recover well.

You can reduce, but not eliminate the risk of swine flu by:

• Always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
• Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
• Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hand to face, or to other people.
• Cleaning hard surfaces, such as door handles, frequently using a normal cleaning product.

If you have had contact with someone who has swine flu and think you may have the symptoms use the symptom checker on the NHS Direct website on the link below.

If you symptoms match those of swine flu then you can ring the National Flu Line Service on 0800 1 513 513.

It is important not to visit your doctor or hospital in person.

What do antivirals do?

Antivirals are not a cure, but they help you to recover by:

• relieving some of the symptoms
• reducing the length of time you are ill by around one day
• reducing the potential of serious complications, such as pneumonia.

You should identify a flu friend to collect anti virals should you need them.

If you think you have swine flu you should isolate yourself if possible. Otherwise you should attend work, school, etc as normal.

The UK has been planning for a potential pandemic for many years and we are one of the most prepared countries to deal with it.

Pregnant  women

Quote from the Chief Medical Officer's advice to pregnant women (dated 20 July 2009)

"Some pregnant women who catch the H1N1 (swine) flu virus will develop complications of the infection (including pneumonia) that could put their own or their baby's health at risk. The risks are greatest in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It is too early in the pandemic of influenza to be able to quantify these risks for the individual but most pregnant women who catch the disease are likely to make an uncomplicated recovery."

Mothers- to-be are advised not to curtail normal activities such as going to work, travelling on public transport and attending events and gatherings. However they are advised to take the following precautions:

• keep your hands clean (frequent use of soap and water or sanitizer)
• avoid contact with anyone who is suspected of, or has, swine flu
• if you have symptoms contact your GP early as the GP may advise anti-viral drugs.

There is no need for other family members to take special precuations, but they should keep their hands clean.

Advice for the workplace

Do people who have potentially been exposed to the flu virus need to stay off work or take any precautionary actions?

• People who are ill with swine flu should not attend work while they are ill. They should return to work when they are fully recovered.
• People who are well should continue to attend work. However, those with underlying health problems are advised to work normally unless their work involved providng personal care to patients with swine flu. Exclusion of people with illness is how vulnerable people are protected from infection at work.
• People who have had contact with flu but are displaying no symptoms should continue to attend work. There are no restrictions to activity for people who are well based on whom they have contacted.
• Use the instructions above to ensure you reduce the risk of spreading flu, eg use tissues if you sneeze - regardless of whether or not you have swine flu.
   

Flu friends

A flu friend can be a neighbour or relative who will collect medicines, food and other supplies for you, so you do not have to leave home when you are unwell. It's a good idea for everyone to identify up to five flu friends so that if one is ill you can rely on another.

A flu friend form is available to help people record their personal flu friend(s).

Remember keep an eye on neighbours or relatives who live alone. You can download the flu friends form below.

Antiviral collection points - things you should know

If you are acting as a flu friend for someone and planning to go to a local antiviral collection point (ACP) to collect their antiviral medication please be aware:

• there may be very limited parking at the ACP, please check before leaving what parking facilities are available
• you may have to wait for the prescription to be issued so please allow plenty of time to collect the antiviral medication
• there are no refreshment facilities at the ACPs
• so that you can collect the antiviral medication please arrive 45 minutes before the ACP is due to close
• respect the staff there as they are trying to help you
• no one will be issued antiviral medication from an ACP without a unique reference number issued by the national pandemic flu service
• flu friends need both their own ID and that of the person they are collecting medication for. Suitable ID includes: passport, birth/marriage certificate, pension/benefit book, cheque book, cheque guarantee card/credit/debit card.

If you have swine flu you should not attend an ACP in person. You will be given details of the ACP when you are given the unique reference number.

The National Vaccination Programme

NHS hospitals are now giving their first doses of swine flu vaccine to the patients facing greatest risk of complications. Healthcare staff dealing with the public are also being vaccinated to help keep medical services running smoothly and to prevent them from passing the virus to patients.

Some GPs have also received initial supplies of the vaccine, with all practices set to receive doses in the coming weeks. Patients will be contacted by their GPs if they fall into one of the at-risk categories.

The order of priority will be:

• People aged from six months to 65 years in current seasonal flu risk groups
• All pregnant women
• Those living with people with compromised immune systems, for example those recieving cancer treatment
• People aged over 65 in the current seasonal flu risk groups.

The government has produced a swine flu vaccination leaflet with more information The chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said: "I urge everyone in the priority groups to have the vaccine - it will help prevent people in clinical risk groups from getting swine flu and the complications that may arise from it."

The latest swine flu update as of October 29 2009:

• Rates have risen again, with an estimated 78,000 new swine flu cases in the past week, up from 53,000 the week before.
• There has been an increase in deaths related to swine flu. To date, there have been 137 deaths in the UK; 97 in England, 25 in Scotland, eight in Northern Ireland and seven in Wales.
• There has been a further rise in hospitalisations, with 751 patients with swine flu in hospital in England. This is the greatest number since July.
• The number of people needing critical care is at its highest level yet, at 157 patients in England.
• The disease is mild in most people so far, but is proving severe in a small minority of cases.
• The swine flu vaccination programme is underway: it is expected that 12m high-risk patients will receive the vaccine by the end of November.
   

Who is a priority for vaccination with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine?

People who are most at risk from swine flu need to be vaccinated first. These groups are, in order of priority:

• People aged between six months and 65 years in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
• All pregnant women, subject to licensing. The European Medicines Agency, who license the vaccine, will indicate whether it can be given to all pregnant women or whether it should only be offered at certain stages of pregnancy.
• People who live with those whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
• People aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
• Frontline health and social care workers will also be offered the vaccine at the same time as the first clinical at-risk groups. Health and social care workers are both at an increased risk of catching swine flu and of spreading it to other at-risk patients.

More information

For more information see the link below to the NHS Direct website, where you will find lots of useful information and leaflets about dealing with swine flu.