WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
New cases of the deadly swine flu virus have been confirmed worldwide. The World Health Organization has warned that swine flu cannot be contained and the risk of a pandemic is “significant”.
Swine flu is a respiratory disease thought to spread through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms mimic those of seasonal flu - sore throat, coughing and fever.
If you have these symptoms phone your GP or NHS Direct. Avoid contact with other people as much as possible, cover your nose and mouth when coughing and wash hands frequently. Treatment is available in the form of anti-virals. The anti- virals are not a cure but evidence shows that they lessen the symptoms and shorten the illness.
The health service has responded by launching the first stage of its contingency plan. Patients are being advised to phone their GPs or NHS Direct - NHS 24 in Scotland - if they are concerned they may have swine flu instead of turning up to health centres in person to minimise the potential spread of the virus.
“We need everyone to make sure they are ready. We are not at the pandemic stage yet, but we are on alert and calls are coming in.”
Dr Maureen Baker, of the Royal College of GPs
The UN’s health agency, the World Health Organisation said the flu is being spread by human-to-human transmission. Work is under way to produce a vaccine and it would typically be five to six months before it became commercially available.
“Our aim is to provide the UK Health Services with sufficient PPE equipment to manage the onset of an A1 pandemic and thereby manage risks to health workers, patients and the general public.”
SIMPLE STEPS FOR PREVENTION
There are simple steps that everyone can take to help prevent catching colds and flu based on good respiratory and hand hygiene.
Always use a tissue to catch your sneezes, throw away used tissues in which germs can linger and regularly wash your hands.
Most importantly, if you have come back from Mexico or one of the affected countries and have flu-like symptoms, stay at home and call your GP or NHS Direct.
