Here are a few questions and answers to address the current concerns about swine flu. You can find out more details on the BBC website.
What is swine flu?
Swine influenza (also known as H1N1) is a new strain of the influenza virus which attacks the upper and lower airways. It most probably originated in pigs in Asia, but it is now uniquely a human disease.
Which people are most vulnerable from swine flu?
Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are:
- people with chronic lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years
- people with chronic heart disease,
- people with chronic kidney disease,
- people with chronic liver disease,
- people with chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis),
- people with suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment)
- people with diabetes
- pregnant women
- people aged 65 years and older
- young children under five years old.
How is swine flu infection diagnosed?
There is now a new self-care service, called the National Pandemic Flu Service, which allows people to check their symptoms online or over the telephone or textphone and obtain antiviral medication if swine flu is confirmed.
Contact details are:
www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk
Tel - 0800 1513 100
Minicom – 0800 1513 200
The following people should call their GP directly for an assessment of their symptoms and a diagnosis:
- those with a serious underlying illness,
- pregnant women,
- those who have a sick child under one year of age,
- those with a condition that suddenly gets much worse,
- those with a condition that is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).
