Swine flu FAQ

A man with no previously known health issues has died from swine flu in the UK. What are the symptoms, who is most likely to be infected and is it time to panic?

What exactly is swine flu and why is it affecting humans?
Swine influenza is a disease in pigs with regular outbreaks in pigs worldwide, though there is no evidence of this in the UK. Normally the disease doesn't affect humans, but the swine flu virus has mutated and is now able to infect humans and transmit between them. The swine flu that has spread to humans is of the H1N1 subtype.

Who is the most likely to be affected by swine flu?
Children aged between five and 14 are most affected by the virus, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). Chloe Buckley, six, from north-west London, along with Michael Day, a GP from Bedfordshire died after contracting the H1N1 virus, just days after an apparently healthy man in Essex became the first fit and well person to die from the virus. A post-mortem has shown that Dr Day died of natural causes. It is not known yet whether Chloe had underlying health problems.

Pregnant women and those aged 65 or older are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu, along with those who have suppressed immune systems and diabetes. Those with chronic diseases of the lung, heart, kidney, liver and chronic neurological disease also are more at risk.

What's the most worrying thing about the swine flu pandemic?
The first deaths of victims with no apparent underlying health problems suggests that the virus can be particularly virulent in some cases. Swine flu appears to be more contagious than normal seasonal flu, partly because pre-existing immunity is low. Also, the high rate of spread at the height of summer was not predicted.

Should I panic?
No. On the other hand, 300 to 400 people die every year in the UK due to normal flu. The government has also moved beyond the "containment" phase of the virus into the "treatment" phase, after health secretary, Andy Burnham, warned that cases were doubling every week and the UK "could see over 100,000 cases per day by the end of August". At that point it stopped handing out Tamiflu tablets to those exposed to swine flu and decided only to prescribe antivirals to those actually diagnosed as having swine flu - beginning the "treatment" phase.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?
Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Most cases reported in the UK to date have been relatively mild with those affected starting to recover within a week.

What should I do if I have swine flu symptoms?
Check your symptoms on the NHS Direct website. If you are concerned, stay at home and call your GP who can provide you with a diagnosis over the phone. If swine flu is confirmed, a friend or relative can collect a document from your GP entitling you to antiviral medication. Do not go into your GP or hospital as you may spread the disease to others. Take paracetamol-based cold remedies to reduce symptoms, drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.

Is there a swine flu vaccine? What about Tamiflu?
Antiviral medicines like Tamiflu and Relenza are a treatment and can help you recover from swine flu, but they are not a cure. They must be administered at an early stage to be effective.

The UK has a stockpile of antivirals sufficient to treat half the population. Also, orders of Tamiflu have been placed to increase UK supplies to 50m doses, enough to treat 80 per cent of the population.

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Get more health advice on swine flu at netdoctor.co.uk

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