THISISGLOUCESTERSHIRE has teamed up with the county NHS to provide the following question and answer document regarding swine flu:

WHAT IS SWINE FLU?

1. ​

Swine influenza is a disease in pigs.The virus currently transmitting among people is now generally referred to as swine flu.

Swine influenza does not usually affect humans, but the virus has mutated (changed) and is now able to infect humans and transmit between them. The swine flu that has spread to humans is a version of the H1N1 virus.

WHICH PEOPLE ARE MOST VULNERABLE FROM SWINE FLU?

Some people are more at risk than others of developing complications if they catch swine flu.

They include:

• people with chronic lung, heart, liver and kidney disease.

• people with chronic neurological disease (such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease).

• people with suppressed immune systems.

• people who have had treatment for asthma in the past three years.

• people with diabetes.

• pregnant women.

• people aged 65 years and older.

• young children under five years old.

If you fall into one of these groups and need further information, visit NHS Direct (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) or call the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SWINE FLU?

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to ordinary flu and include: a raised temperature (over 38 degrees) and any of the following: fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Go to the symptom checker at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk to find out more.

I’VE HEARD THAT A NEW NATIONAL PANDEMIC FLU SERVICE WILL BE INTRODUCED THIS WEEK. WHAT IS THIS?

The National Pandemic Flu Service is expected to launch at the end of this week to speed up the distribution of antivirals and provide additional support to the NHS.

The service will be made up of a dedicated website and call centres. People who think they have flu will be able to contact the service by web or phone to get a diagnosis.

If they have swine flu, they will get an authorization number, which a healthy friend or relative can use to collect medicine on their behalf from  designated local collection points.

NHS Gloucestershire will issue detailed information about how the National Pandemic Flu Service will work and contact information in the next few days.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN THE MEANTIME IF I THINK I HAVE SWINE FLU?

The National Pandemic Flu Service will not be in place until the end of this week. In the meantime, if you think you or anyone in your family has swine flu, you should do the

following:

• Check your symptoms online using the NHS Direct swine flu symptom checker (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) or call 0800 1 513 513.

• If you are still concerned, stay at home and call your GP who will provide a diagnosis over the phone.

• If swine flu is confirmed, your GP will advise you how to obtain any medication you need (including the antiviral medication Tamiflu).

• A healthy friend or relative can collect your medications for you, usually from a pharmacy or community centre.

• In the meantime take paracetamol-based cold remedies to reduce fever and other symptoms, drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.

• Do not go into your GP surgery, or to a hospital, as you may spread the disease to others.

HOW IS SWINE FLU SPREAD?

Swine flu spreads in the same way as ordinary colds and flu. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.

If someone coughs or sneezes and they do not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft).

The virus can also survive for a few hours on hands and hard services, so make sure you follow good hand hygiene and clean hard surfaces frequently using a normal cleaning product.

SHOULD I GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL IF I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO I KNOW HAS SWINE FLU?

Yes, as long as you do not have flu-like symptoms. If you are feeling well, you should go about your normal activities, including going to school or work, unless you have been told not to do so by the school or your employer.

HOW DANGEROUS IS SWINE FLU?

The vast majority of cases reported so far in this country have been mild, and similar to ordinary seasonal flu.

Only a small number have led to serious illnesses, and these have frequently been where patients have had underlying health problems.

Antiviral medications can help reduce the length and severity of the disease. A very small number of people have died following flu, but most have had other underlying medical conditions.

IF I HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH AN INFECTED PERSON, DO I NEED TREATMENT?

Currently most people will only need antiviral treatment if they have been diagnosed with swine flu and their doctor decides it is necessary.

If you have been in close contact with someone with swine flu you will not usually need an antiviral treatment, unless you are particularly vulnerable to infection, and fall into one of the vulnerable groups.

HOW LONG ARE SYMPTOMS EXPECTED TO LAST?

As with any sort of influenza, the duration of symptoms will vary. Most cases in the UK to date have been relatively mild, with those affected starting to recover within a week.

Some people may experience post-viral fatigue and feel tired for up to two weeks.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO REDUCE THEIR RISK OF CATCHING SWINE FLU?

It’s important that people continue to do everything they can to stop the virus from spreading.

• Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

• Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.

• Maintain good basic hygiene – washing hands frequently with soap and warm water.

• Clean hard surfaces, such as door handles, frequently using a normal cleaning product.

• If you are unwell with flu, please stay at home and avoid spreading the disease to others.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO PREPARE?

• Find a ‘flu friend’ – friends and relatives, preferably with transport, who can collect medicines and other supplies for you if you fall ill, so you do not have to leave home and possibly spread the virus.

• Make sure you have adequate quantities of cold and cough remedies in your medicine cupboard; simple medications like paracetamol-based cold remedies.

• Look out for more information about the new National Pandemic Flu Service which will be up and running by the end of next week.

IS SWINE FLU TREATABLE?

Swine flu can be treated with the antiviral medicines Tamiflu and Relenza. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage, preferably within two or three days of the onset of symptoms, to be effective.

Antivirals do not provide immunity; however, they can reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. Immunity can only be provided by a vaccine.

HOW LARGE IS THE UK’S STOCKPILE OF ANTI-VIRAL DRUGS LIKE TAMIFLU?

Orders of Tamiflu have been placed to increase UK supplies to 50m doses, enough to treat 80 per cent of the population of the country.

DOES GLOUCESTERSHIRE HAVE ENOUGH TAMIFLU TO COPE WITH EXPECTED INFECTION LEVELS?

Antivirals should be available for everyone who gets ill in Gloucestershire and there is no need for people to buy their own.

WILL ANTIVIRALS BE GIVEN TO PEOPLE WITHOUT FLU SYMPTOMS?

In most cases, no. There may be some exceptions such as close contacts of people diagnosed with swine flu, who for other reasons may be at risk of suffering more severe illnesses if they catch the disease.

HOW ARE THOSE WITH CONFIRMED SWINE FLU GETTING ACCESS TO ANTIVIRALS?

Currently GPs are prescribing antivirals following a telephone diagnosis (or occasionally a face to face appointment). A healthy friend or relative can then collect the antivirals on the patient’s behalf.

From the end of this week, people will be able to contact the National Pandemic Flu Service by web or phone to get a diagnosis of their symptoms, and if necessary, access

antivirals locally from designated collection points.

WHAT IS THE ADVICE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN?

Pregnant women are more susceptible to all infections, including swine flu because their immune system is naturally suppressed in pregnancy.

If you are pregnant, you can reduce your risk of infection by avoiding unnecessary travel and crowds where possible, and following the general hygiene advice provided here.

If you think that you may have swine flu, check your symptoms online at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk . If you are still concerned, call your doctor for an assessment immediately. If a family member or other close contact has swine flu, your doctor may prescribe you antiviral medication (usually Relenza) as a preventative measure.

It is important to note that most pregnant women will only have mild symptoms and recover within a week.

CAN I TAKE ANTIVIRAL DRUGS IF I AM PREGNANT?

Yes, on the advice of a doctor. If you are pregnant and diagnosed with swine flu, you will usually be given a course of the antiviral drug Relenza, an inhaled antiviral drug that treats flu without reaching the developing fetus. Relenza should not affect your pregnancy or your growing baby.

IS THERE A VACCINE AND WILL GLOUCESTERSHIRE PEOPLE RECEIVE IT?

We are expecting the first batches of vaccines to be available by early autumn with further batches available by the end of the year. It is anticipated that the mass vaccination programme will last up to 12 months.

NHS Gloucestershire is working closely with NHS South West to ensure that when stocks for the swine flu vaccination become available we can prioritise the groups at higher risk and provide a programme of vaccination for the whole of the county.

CAN GP SURGERIES AND HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTY COPE WITH EXPECTED INFECTION LEVELS?

Gloucestershire has plans in place for managing extra demand on the healthcare system. However people can help the health care services by following the advice and guidance

provided here.

I AM ABOUT TO GO ON HOLIDAY TO A COUNTRY AFFECTED BY SWINE FLU – WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Before travelling, check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website for information specific to the country you are visiting, or call the FCO’s 24-hour advice line on 0845 850 2829.

To access the Department of Health Swine Flu Information line when abroad, call 00 44 207 928 1010.

USEFUL CONTACTS

For further information on swine flu and to check your symptoms on-line visit NHS Direct: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or call the swine flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513.

For travel advice, visit www.fco.gov.uk or call 0845 850