Saturday 11 July 2009

Swine Flu

With the speed at which swine flu is spreading it will come as no surprise that there is a possible case of it in the village. The individual concerned is being treated with Tamiflu which is not a cure but should help to relieve some of the symptoms and reduce the potential for serious complications such as pneumonia.

More than 9,700 people in the UK are known to have caught the disease, but the real figure is believed to be much higher. The Government has warned that the number of swine flu cases could soar to 100,000 a day by the end of next month and estimated that the virus could eventually affect up to 50 per cent of the population. In the majority of cases the virus has proved relatively mild.

There are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting flu and help stop the spread of the virus.

The key is to practise good respiratory and hand hygiene.

  • cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue and throw the tissue away quickly and carefully
  • wash your hands regularly with soap and water
  • clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product

If you think you have swine flu, check your symptoms online using the NHS flu symptom checker , call the Swine Flu information line on 0800 1 513 513 or call your local GP - do not go to the GPs surgery or hospital in person. Your local GP will be able to tell you if you have swine flu over the phone. You can also call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 but they are inundated with calls at the moment so be prepared for a long wait.

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