The second wave of the swine flu pandemic in England is now over and the National Pandemic Flu Service has been stood down.
If you think you have swine flu please stay at home and contact your GP by phone. Alternatively you can go to NHS Choices or phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
GPs will be able to issue a voucher for antivirals if this is what you need. Please ask someone who does not have flu to go and collect your antivirals from one of the designated pharmacies in eastern and coastal Kent identified by your GP.
If cases of swine flu start to increase, the flu service can be up and running again within seven days.
Symptoms
As swine flu spreads, it is important to be able to recognise its symptoms. People who have two of the following symptoms and a temperature of 38° C and above, or feel hot may have swine flu.
The typical symptoms are:
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sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38C/100.4F or above)
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sudden cough.
Other symptoms may include:
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headache
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tiredness
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chills
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aching muscles
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limb or joint pain
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diarrhoea or stomach upset
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sore throat
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runny nose
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sneezing
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loss of appetite.
Vaccinations
The vaccination programme will continue and it remains extremely important for those in priority groups and children aged over six months and under five years to have the vaccine.
Experts advise that swine flu is likely to be the main flu virus in the 2010 flu season. The 2010 season may start earlier than usual and there may be outbreaks sparked by travellers returning from the southern hemisphere where the flu season is now beginning.
If you are in one of the priority groups and you have not yet been vaccinated, please ask your GP practice for a date when you can go in and be vaccinated.
The following groups have been prioritised for vaccination:
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Individuals aged six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups
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Pregnant women
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Household contacts of people with compromised immune systems, for example people in regular contact with patients on treatment for cancer
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People aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
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Healthy children aged over six months and under five years.
For the latest information about swine flu visit NHS Choices.
Catch it, bin it, kill it
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent is repeating its advice to members of the public that good hand hygiene, and following the ‘catch it, kill it, bin it’ guidance is the best way to stop infections spreading.
Anyone suffering from flu and colds should follow the guidance by using and then disposing of tissues properly. It is also important to wash hands and surfaces thoroughly to help stop the spread of infection.
Leaflets
