SWINE FLU INFORMATION

SWINE INFLUENZA

Anyone who suspects they have swine flu must not go to their GP or Accident and Emergency.

THE NATIONAL PANDEMIC FLU SERVICE

The National Pandemic Flu Service was launched in England today. The online and phone service will allow people to get information, check their symptoms and get a unique number which will give them access to antivirals if necessary.

If you suspect that you have swine flu, you are instructed to:

1) Go online at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or call the Treatment Line on 0800 1 513 100. Textphone is available on 0800 1 513 200.

2) You will be taken through a list of basic questions about your symptoms and medical history, and asked to confirm date of birth, name and address including postcode.

3) If you are confirmed as having swine flu, you will be given a unique access number and told where the nearest antiviral collection point is. You should then ask a flu friend - a friend or relative to who doesn't have swine flu - to go and pick up antivirals.


People should contact their doctor direct rather than using the National Pandemic Flu Service if:

- they have a serious underlying illness,
- they are pregnant,
- they have a sick child under one year old
- their condition suddenly gets much worse, or
- if their condition is still getting worse after 7 days (5 for a child)

Symptoms:

The Department of Health advises that people who have any of the following symptoms and a temperature of 38° C and above or feels hot may have swine flu.
The typical symptoms are:

- sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38C/100.4F or above), and
- sudden cough.

Other symptoms may include:

- headache,
- tiredness,
- chills,
- aching muscles,
- limb or joint pain,
- diarrhoea or stomach upset,
- sore throat,
- runny nose,
- sneezing, and
- loss of appetite
 

Swine Flu Latest

As you can imagine we are dealing with an unprecedented number of calls regarding Swine Flu.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions information below from NHS Choices: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemic-flu/Pages/QA.aspx

If you are concerned that you, a friend, relative or colleague has swine flu, you should:

• Stay at home
• Check symptoms as soon as possible on www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemic-flu/
• Call the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513513 to hear the latest advice
• If you have taken these steps and are still concerned, call NHS Direct or your GP for advice on next steps, so that the GP can prescribe antivirals if necessary, ideally within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms
• Advise them not to go to A&E unless they are seriously ill.

If you do experience symptoms, you can help yourself by staying at home, following the advice above, resting, drinking plenty of fluids and taking over the counter flu remedies to relieve symptoms. If your condition worsens you should contact your GP.

Visit the Health Protection Agency website HERE »