Swine Flu - News so far... - Update 5 May 2009

HIB has been keeping a close eye on the situation so far and alhamdulliah, the spread of this virus has been steady but hasn't escalated to a pandemeic so far. The alert level still remains at level five. There are now more than 1085 cases worldwide with upto 22 countries effected with confirmed cases of the H1N1 influenza virus. In the UK, there are 28 confirmed cases with more than 300 suspected cases of the disease. The latest cases have been in the 2 schools, namely Alleyn's school in Dulwich, london and the Dolphin school. No doubt momineen are abreast of this news via the popular media.

UPDATE - 1 MAY 2009

As you may already be aware, a new strain of the influenza virus has now spread to atleast 12 countries through-out the world and we have some of the first cases in the UK. HIB has been keeping an eye on what advice is being offered by various Health Authorities such as the World Health Organisation, Royal College of General Practitioners and the Health protection agency. Below is the summary of what we know so far.

The World Health Organisation raised the alert over swine flu to level five. A phase five alert signifies that there has been human-to-human transmission in at least two countries and that the disease is able to spread easily between humans. This will no doubt result in governments bringing in travel measures to prevent its spread, including travel restrictions and trade limitations. Phase five also means that a pandemic - phase 6 - is imminent. Phase 6 is a full blown pandemic, characterised by outbreaks in at least two regions of the world. This level was elevated after a 23-month-old Mexican child died in Texas, the first death outside of Mexico, where the outbreak developed.

Swine flu has now been detected in 12 countries and there have been 8 deaths so far. At present there are 8 confirmed cases in the UK and these are all over the country. The first cases were those of a couple in Scotland who returned from Mexico after their honeymoon and have been treated successfully in Hospital. Treatment is effective with tamiflu and other anti-viral medication.

Below is simple advice to follow to minimise infection from spreading:

• Avoid unessential travel to areas likely to be affected such as Mexico, Canada and the United States of America. Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the latest travel reccomendations which are updated daily.
• Travel with adequate travel insurance even if going to unaffected areas.
• Avoid kissing and hugging people.
• Use a disposable tissue to sneeze and cough into and wash your hands immediately after blowing or cleaning your noses. BIN THE TISSUE AND USE A FRESH ONE.
• a mass public health campaign will begin today (30 April) with print, TV and radio adverts
• Leaflets will be dropped through people's doors from next Tuesday (this leaflet contains information about what swine flu is and how it could spread, what UK governments have done to prepare for a wider outbreak of flu, how people can protect themselves against flu and what they should do if they have flu symptoms: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm)

Information about swine flu is accessible using a dedicated freephone number (0800 1 513 513) and on the symptom checker on www.nhs.uk. Also go to the Health protection authority website for advice

http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1240732817824?p=1240812233855

If you develop flu like symptoms and have either got a fever, been exposed to others with flu-like illness or have returned from the affected areas in the last 7 days, then contact your GP urgently via the telephone. Remain at home so that you don't spread the infection. Your GP has been updated on what to do in these cases and will respond appropriately.

HIB