Swine flu latest from the NHS1

The chief medical officer has said that the number of people with flu continues to fall. In the week to January 7, the number of cases has fallen to fewer than 5,000 estimated cases.
The overall number of patients in hospital was down to 393, with a slight reduction in critical care patients, at 103. There were 360 deaths in the UK, with 251 in England, 64 in Scotland, 28 in Wales, and 17 in Northern Ireland.
Despite the decrease in swine flu numbers, it remains important that people in at-risk groups are vaccinated. Healthy children under five years and over six months began to be vaccinated before Christmas, and more than 86,000 are estimated to have been given the vaccine. In total, more than 3.2 million doses have been given to priority groups.

Vaccinations

Vaccination of people in clinical risk groups is well under way, with an estimated 3.2 million doses of vaccine administered so far. NHS hospitals and GPs are now vaccinating patients facing the greatest risk of complications. Patients will be contacted by their GPs if they fall into one of the at-risk categories.
Healthcare staff dealing with the public are also being vaccinated to help keep medical services running smoothly and to prevent them from passing the virus to patients.

Who is a priority for vaccination?

People who are most at risk from swine flu need to be vaccinated first. These groups are, in order of priority:
People aged between six months and 65 years in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
All pregnant women. The European Medicines Agency has indicated the vaccine can be given to pregnant women regardless of their stage of pregnancy.
People who live with those whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
People aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
Healthy children aged over six months and under five years old.
Frontline health and social care workers will also be offered the vaccine at the same time as the first clinical at-risk groups. Health and social care workers are both at an increased risk of catching swine flu and of spreading it to other at-risk patients.

What are the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups?

These are people with:
chronic respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
chronic heart disease, such as heart failure,
chronic kidney disease, such as kidney failure,
chronic liver disease, such as chronic hepatitis,
chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson's disease,
diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs, and
immunosuppression (a suppressed immune system), due to disease or treatment.

Who is at greatest risk of serious complications from swine flu?

Some people are more at risk of complications if they catch swine flu, and need to start taking antivirals as soon as it is confirmed that they have the illness. Doctors may advise some high-risk patients to take antivirals before they have symptoms, if someone close to them has swine flu.
It is already known that people are particularly vulnerable if they have:
chronic (long-term) lung disease,
chronic heart disease,
chronic kidney disease,
chronic liver disease,
chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease),
immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment), or diabetes mellitus.
Also at risk are:
patients who have had drug treatment for asthma in the past three years,
pregnant women,
people aged 65 and over, and
children under five.


National Pandemic Flu Service

The National Pandemic Flu Service was launched in July. This online service assesses patients for swine flu and, if required, gives them an authorisation number that can be used to collect antiviral medication.
The system, which can also be accessed by phone, will take the strain off GPs as swine flu spreads. For the moment, it is being used only in England.
“The National Pandemic Flu Service is a new self-care service which will give people with pandemic swine flu symptoms fast access to information and antivirals,” said a Department of Health spokesman.
“This new service will free up GPs, enabling them to deal with other illnesses that need their urgent attention.”
The launch of the system brought important changes to the official advice that is given to people who think they may have swine flu. That advice – and the new system – is supported by the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Swine flu medicines
To learn about the medicines used to treat pandemic flu, including the benefits and side-effects, go to the pandemic flu medicine guide.
Reporting side effects
If you take an antiviral and have suspected side effects, first contact your GP to check that you are OK. You can then report your side effects on MHRA's new online system.


Advice for antivirals

Several newspapers reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) had changed its advice regarding use of antivirals for swine flu. Its advice suggests that while antivirals should always be given in serious cases, they may not always be necessary for otherwise healthy people.
The papers pointed out that this appeared to differ from the approach taken in the UK, where Tamiflu is being widely used.
However, the Department of Health said:
"We believe a safety-first approach of offering antivirals, when required, to everyone remains a sensible and responsible way forward. However, we will keep this policy under review as we learn more about the virus and its effects.
"The WHO recommendations are in fact in line with UK policy on antivirals. We have consistently said that many people with swine flu only get mild symptoms, and they may find bed rest and over-the-counter flu remedies work for them.”
For an explanation of swine flu, its symptoms and treatment, go to Swine flu A-Z
For quick questions and answers go to Swine flu Q&A
For information in other languages and formats go to Swine flu: other languages
To check your symptoms go to the National Pandemic Flu Service
For advice on how to protect yourself and your baby go to Swine flu and pregnancy

Latest advice

If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu, the advice is to stay at home and check your symptoms at the National Pandemic Flu Service.
Patients with swine flu typically have a fever or a high temperature (over 38°C / 100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms:
unusual tiredness,
headache,
runny nose,
sore throat,
shortness of breath or cough,
loss of appetite,
aching muscles,
diarrhoea or vomiting
Call your GP if:
you have a serious underlying (existing) illness,
you're pregnant,
you have a sick child under one year old,
your condition suddenly gets much worse, or
your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).
For people who do not have internet access, the National Pandemic Flu Service can be accessed by phone on:
Telephone: 0800 1 513 100
Minicom: 0800 1 513 200
For more information on the National Pandemic Flu Service, go to Flu Service: questions and answers.
People in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can visit www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu

Advice for pregnant women

Pregnant women are one of the higher risk groups for swine flu, as they are for all influenza viruses. It is therefore important for them to take precautions.
This website provides full and up-to-date advice for pregnant women and parents of young children. The advice has not changed recently and is available at the following links:
Swine flu advice for pregnant women.
Swine flu pregnancy and parenting Q&A.
Swine flu symptoms, including high-risk groups.
Chief medical officer's advice on pregnancy, holidays, and parents.
Reduce the risk of catching or spreading flu
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue.
Dispose of used tissues carefully.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or alcoholic hand rub.
Clean hard surfaces (e.g. kitchen worktops, door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
Catch it, Bin it, Kill it

Although the UK has moved to a treatment phase for swine flu, it’s important that people continue to do everything they can to stop the virus from spreading.
The most important way to stop it spreading is to have good respiratory hygiene (i.e. sneezing and coughing into a tissue) and hand hygiene (keeping your hands clean). The video Catch it, Bin It, Kill It explains the importance of catching your sneeze in a tissue, placing it quickly in a bin and washing your hands and surfaces regularly to kill the virus.