Advice about swine flu
Swine flu has spread across the world since emerging in Mexico and is now
officially the first flu pandemic for 40 years. Experts fear millions of people
will be infected.
What is swine flu and what are the symptoms?
SWINE FLU SYMPTOMS
Typical symptoms: sudden fever (38C or above) and sudden cough
1. Other symptoms include: Tiredness and chills
2. Headache, sore throat, runny nose and sneezing
3. Stomach upset, loss of appetite, diarrhoea
4. Aching muscles, limb or joint pain
Source: NHS
Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A
virus known as H1N1.
H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a
regular basis.
But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic
material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect
humans, birds and swine.
Although the strain may have originated in pigs, it is now a wholly human
disease.
It can be spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing.
Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by
standard, seasonal flu.
A fever - which is a temperature of 38ºC (100.4ºF) - is the key
symptom, combined with other complaints which may include a cough, sore
throat, body aches, chills and aching limbs. Some people with the virus
have also reported nausea and diarrhoea.
As with normal flu, the severity of symptoms will depend on
treatment and the individual. Many people have only suffered mildly and
have begun to recover within a week.
People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms, but
they cease to be a risk once those symptoms have disappeared. The incubation
period may be as little as two days.
Apparently healthy people are dying from the virus. Does that means it is
getting worse?
Experts say this does not change anything, and that if anything it
is surprising that it has taken this long in the UK for someone without
underlying health problems to die.
THE AT RISK GROUPS
People with lung disease
People with heart disease
People with kidney disease
People with diabetes
Those with immunosuppression problems either because of treatment or disease
Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma
Pregnant women
Children under five
Apparently healthy people can die of any flu-related virus if it
causes complications such as pneumonia so these latest deaths do not
give any extra cause for concern.
Indeed, so far, many people who have developed symptoms of
infection have not needed drugs to make a full recovery, according to
the WHO.
Flu expert Professor Peter Openshaw, of Imperial College London,
says about one in every three people who become infected will not
realise they have had swine flu because they will have had no or only
very few symptoms.
"About 98% of people who get infected will recover fully without
any hospital treatment so I think the public needs to be reassured."
The real fear is that the strain will mutate and become more
virulent which would pose a greater threat. This has been the feature
of previous flu pandemics.
But this has not yet happened - and in any event it is worth
remembering that seasonal flu often poses a serious threat to public
health - each year it kills 250,000 - 500,000 around the world.
Why are younger people more affected?
In the UK the infection has been found to affect younger people
more due to it spreading quickly in schools where there is a lot of
mixing and where infections can quickly spread. This is not unusual and
children are known to be important in the spread of flu. It is thought
that older age groups may have some immunity as they have been exposed
to previous H1N1 viruses.
How is it treated?
Two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, are
effective at treating infection, reducing the length of the illness and
cutting the chances that people will have serious complications.
Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass
the virus on to others.
However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.
Researchers have also questioned whether the drugs are helpful in
children aged between one and 12, saying the risk of side effects might
outweigh any benefits.
But the Department of Health maintains a "safety-first approach" of offering
antivirals to everyone remains a sensible and responsible way forward.
It said it would keep the policy under review.
The UK government already has a stockpile of Tamiflu, ordered as a precaution
against a pandemic.
There is also concern that if too many people start taking
anti-virals as a precaution, it could raise the risk of the virus
developing resistance, reducing the drugs' effectiveness.
There is however no evidence at present that this is happening.
In any event there is little point taking these drugs as a
precaution as each tablet only provides a day's worth of cover. Given
that the virus may be with us for many months - or indeed years -
taking a regular pill is ill-advised as the long-term side effects are
not known.
The drugs can have side-effects, most commonly nausea and vomiting.
What measures then can I take to prevent infection?
As yet there is no vaccine, but manufacturers are trying to
develop one. Good progress is being made and the first doses may be
available in the UK by August. However the NHS says it may be next year
before everyone can be immunised.
FLU PANDEMICS
1918: The Spanish flu pandemic
remains the most devastating outbreak of modern times. Caused by a form
of the H1N1 strain of flu, it is estimated that up to 40% of the
world's population were infected, and more than 50 million people died,
with young adults particularly badly affected
1957: Asian flu killed two million people. Caused by
a human form of the virus, H2N2, combining with a mutated strain found
in wild ducks. The impact of the pandemic was minimised by rapid action
by health authorities, who identified the virus, and made vaccine
available speedily. The elderly were particularly vulnerable
1968: An outbreak first detected in Hong Kong, and
caused by a strain known as H3N2, killed up to one million people
globally, with those over 65 most likely to die
Older people and those under 16 - as well as health workers and
those with existing clinical conditions - will be given priority.
It is hoped that even if the virus mutates in coming months, the
vaccine would still confer a high degree of protection against related
strains.
In the meantime, avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have
fever and cough.
General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce
transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza.
This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or
sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly.
It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and
water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to
other people, and cleaning hard surfaces like door handles frequently
using a normal cleaning product.
In Mexico masks have been handed out to the general public, but experts are
sceptical about how useful this is.
Some suggest it may even be counterproductive.
What is the advice for pregnant women?
The Department of Health has clarified its advice on how expectant
mothers should protect themselves following a series of apparently
mixed messages.
Concerns were heightened after a woman with swine flu died last week shortly
after giving birth prematurely.
Pregnant women are among the groups at increased risk from swine flu. It is
important that they follow the advice about hand hygiene.
They may also want to avoid very crowded places and unnecessary
travel, but experts stressed people should use their own judgement and
should carry on with their daily lives.
