The Facts and Figures

By Sara Millbank

Are you feeling unwell and have flu like Symptoms? Do you have a fever, sore throat, diarrhoea, headache, loss of appetite and a dry cough? Is it swine flu and how do you know? Well, swine flu is the common name given to a new strain of influenza and is called this because it is thought to have originated in pigs, although this is not proven.

The virus was first identified in Mexico in April 2009. It has since become a pandemic which means it has spread around the globe. The main reason it has spread quickly is because it is a new type of flu virus and few people have full resistance to it. In most cases the virus has proven relatively mild, although to date some 1,300 people are known to have died from swine flu.

The number of new cases of swine flu per week in the UK is estimated at 25,000. Compared to three weeks ago this has dropped from 110,000 cases a week. So far 49 people have died in the UK and measurers to contain the virus, for example closing schools, have ended mainly because of the decreasing numbers of new cases.

As in other countries, most of the cases reported in the UK and in Spain have been mild. Most people recover in a week and generally without any special treatment. Only a small number of cases have led to serious illness and these are often patients with existing health problems that already have a weakened immune system.

The UK government has decided to offer the antiviral medicines Tamiflu or Relenza to everyone who is confirmed with swine flu although some people feel that the antivirals should only be given to people at risk. Paracetamol and bed rest until the person is better is the normal advise for flu but Doctors may advise some high risk patients to take antivirals before they even have the symptoms, if someone close to them has swine flu.

It is very important that people also try to stop the spreading of the virus with good respiratory and hand hygiene. Always sneeze into a tissue and then quickly put this in a bin. Wash your hands and home and work surfaces regularly to kill the germs.

A vaccine to protect against swine flu is being developed but is not available yet. The first batches are expected to arrive in the autumn of 2009 and 30 million double doses are expected by the end of the year.

If in doubt consult your doctor in the first instance and remember to Catch it, Kill it Bin it. No I don’t get it either but its part of the NHS campaign against swine flu. For more information go to www.nhs.uk