Swine flu (Influenza A H1N1)
For the latest information on Swine flu please visit Directgov which has been designated the website for essential cross-government swine flu messages. NHS Choices will continue to provide the primary public facing health information and advice service.
What is swine flu (influenza A H1N1)?
A new strain of Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, was confirmed in the UK in April and has spread to more than 100 countries around the world.
Although symptoms have generally proved mild, a small number of patients will develop more serious illness. Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, that put them at increased risk.
How likely is a flu pandemic?
Swine flu is now a pandemic. Pandemic flu occurs when an influenza virus emerges that is so different from previously circulating strains that few, if any, people have any immunity to it. This allows it to spread widely and rapidly, causing serious illness.
On 11 June the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its alert to level 6, recognising that A(H1N1) swine flu has spread to pandemic levels around the globe.
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How likely is it that pandemic flu will spread to the UK?
The UK has moved from the 'containment' to the 'treatment' phase of swine flu as the number of people catching swine flu continues to rise. For more information please visit www.direct.gov.uk
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How will a flu pandemic differ from an outbreak of ‘ordinary' flu?
A pandemic occurs when there is a rapidly-spreading epidemic of a disease that affects most countries and regions of the world.
Swine flu is now a pandemic. Pandemic flu occurs when an influenza virus emerges that is so different from previously circulating strains that few, if any, people have any immunity to it. This allows it to spread widely and rapidly, causing serious illness.
Ordinary flu and pandemic flu - the differences
Ordinary flu:
- occurs every year during the winter
- affects 10 to 15 per cent of the UK popuation
- most people recover within 1 or 2 weeks without medical treatment
- can be identified in advance and a vaccine can be made (this immunisation is known as the flu jab and helps protect people from ordinary flu)
Pandemic flu:
- occurs during any season
- affects more people than ordinary flu (up to half the population)
- is a more serious infection
- people of all ages may be at risk of infection
- a vaccine cannot be made because the virus strain has not been identifed
- antiviral medicine is stockpiled to treat people
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Who's at risk?
Some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu. It is vital that people in these higher risk groups get anti-viral drugs and start taking them as soon as possible – within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Health authorities are still learning about the swine flu virus, but the following people are known to be at higher risk:
- pregnant women
- people aged 65 years and older
- young children under five years old
People suffering from the following illnesses are also at increased risk:
- chronic lung disease
- chronic heart disease
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic liver disease
- chronic neurological disease
- Immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment)
- Diabetes mellitus
- patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years
For more information please visit www.direct.gov.uk
Is there a vaccine to protect against pandemic flu?
Swine flu is being treated with anti-viral drugs. A swine flu vaccine is expected to be available by August.
Vaccine
As swine flu is a new virus, a new vaccine had to be developed to deal with it.
The first batch of the vaccine is expected to be available by August, with 60 million doses of the swine flu vaccine expected to be available by the end of the year.
The government has ordered enough vaccine for the whole population, but to reduce the impact of swine flu those at greatest risk will be given priority.
Anti-viral drugs
Anti-viral drugs work by preventing the flu virus from reproducing - to be effective you need to take them within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. This means the illness may be shortened by a day and reduce the risk of complications. Read the section above, ‘if you have the flu’ before contacting your doctor about anti-viral drugs.
For more information please visit www.direct.gov.uk
For updates please visit:
Source: Directgov
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