Swine flu

New national pandemic flu service

A national pandemic flu service is available as the first point of contact for people who have flu-like symptoms.

The services includes call centres, which can be reached by calling the new national flu line on 0800 1 513 100, and a dedicated pandemic flu website at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu. If you have flu-like symptoms, the service will be able to quickly tell whether you have swine flu.

If you call the service and swine flu is confirmed, you will be given a unique reference number. This number should be passed to a ‘flu friend’ – a friend or relative who does not have swine flu – who can use it to collect antivirals from one of the local antiviral collection points.

It is particularly important for people with chronic lung, kidney or heart disease, under fives, over 65s and pregnant women to use the new service as soon as they have symptoms. If you have a baby who is under one, you should call your GP as soon as possible if they have symptoms.

Symptoms of swine flu

There is no need to be alarmed about swine flu. The most common symptoms are fever, sore throat, diarrhoea, headache, feeling generally unwell, and a dry cough – in other words, symptoms very similar to ordinary seasonal flu. Most people recover within a week, even without anti-viral treatment.

What should you do?

For individuals, the advice remains the same. Unless you have flu-like symptoms, there is no need to stop your normal everyday activities, such as going to work or school.

If you have flu-like symptoms and think you may have swine flu, you should use the national pandemic flu service to check your symptoms, either by calling the new national flu line on 0800 1 513 100 or by going online at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu.

Flu friends

In order to make sure you are well-prepared in case you are affected by swine flu, you are advised to set up a network of ‘flu friends’ – friends, family members or neighbours (who do not have symptoms) who can help you if you become ill. Your flu friends can collect food, medication and other supplies so you don’t have to leave home while you are ill. This is important because it will help to prevent the virus from spreading.

If you call the national pandemic flu service and are given a unique reference number because you have swine flu, you will need to give that number to your flu-friend. They will then be able to collect your medicine from the local anti-viral collection centre.

Follow good simple hygiene advice

Although the focus is now on treatment, there are some simple precautionary steps we can all take to prevent the spread of viruses, including swine flu, such as following good basic hygiene practices that stop germs from spreading.

You can protect yourself and your family by making sure everyone washes their hands regularly with soap and water, and by cleaning hard surfaces regularly.

If you feel unwell, you can prevent a virus spreading to others by carrying tissues and using them to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you use tissues, dispose of them as soon as possible, and wash your hands frequently. Remember - Catch it. Kill it. Bin it.

Businesses

Practical advice for businesses can be obtained from Business Link.