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Swine Flu Update
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Dealing effectively with swine flu
Swine influenza is now widespread in the UK, including the East Midlands. South Northamptonshire Council is working with other organisations and NHS Northamptonshire, which is leading our response locally, to deal with the effects of the disease.
For specific information for Businesses please click here
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More information – important links
For the latest information on swine flu, and what to do if you think you may have swine flu, please visit the NHS Northamptonshire website, NHS Choices and the National Pandemic Flu Service. For general advice:
NHS Northamptonshire : http://www.northamptonshire.nhs.uk/ |
How is swine flu caught and spread to others?
Swine flu, just like seasonal flu, is spread from person to person by close contact. This includes:
- Touching or shaking the hand of an infected person and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose without first washing your hands.
- Touching surfaces or objects (e.g. door handles) that have been contaminated with the flu virus and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose without washing your hands.
- Large droplets from coughing and/or sneezing by an infected person within a short distance (usually 1 metre of less of someone).
How to protect you and your family
The best ways you can protect yourself and your family are to:
- Wash your hands regularly using soap and water - this will reduce the chance of transferring any type of infection. It should take you 30 seconds to wash your hands properly (this is about the length of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday through twice – at normal speed!).
- Catch it, bin it, kill it - cover your nose and mouth when sneezing. Always use fresh tissues when sneezing or coughing and dispose of it immediately to kill any germs, washing your hands immediately afterwards.
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If you are suffering from flu-like symptoms you should:
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Please stay at home and contact the National Pandemic Flu Service https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk/
Information: 0800 1 513 100
Treatment: 0800 1 513 513
Minicom: 0800 1 513 200
- If you are in an at-risk group, please contact your GP. High risk people are defined as:
- Those over 65
- Children under five
- People with chronic respiratory, heart, liver or kidney problems, chronic neurological disease, diabetes, or immunosuppression
- Pregnant women.
- You should also call your GP if your condition suddenly gets much worse, or your condition is still getting worse after seven days (or five days for a child).
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Please do not visit your GP, hospital or pharmacist if you have symptoms as you risk spreading the virus to other people. Because some people are not currently following medical advice and staying at home whilst experiencing symptoms the virus continues to spread.
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You will be asked a number of questions and you will be advised whether you are likely to be suffering from swine flu and whether you will need to take anti-viral drugs.
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Not everyone will need to be prescribed anti-viral drugs. You may be asked to stay at home until your symptoms have passed completely.
- If you would like more information about the virus please call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513 or see http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
Swine Flu anti-viral drugs: Tamiflu
Tamiflu does not stop you getting flu, so there is no point trying to get it to prevent you getting infected. It simply helps to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, if you do have flu.
How do I obtain anti-virals?
If you are diagnosed as having swine flu (or are the 'flu friend' of someone who is) and are allocated antirviral medicine, you should be instructed where to go to collect the medicine.
You can find your nearest collection points using the 'Collection points' page on the National Pandemic Flu Service website https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk/CollectionPoints.aspx
It is important to note that you cannot buy antirvirals, and you cannot collect them without a unique reference number given to you by the National Pandemic Flu Service, or authorisation from a GP. Collection points cannot distribute antivirals without either of these.
- Flu Friends are able to pick the antivirals at collection points around the county as long as they bring the correct authorisation and identification with them, i.e. a unique reference number from the national flu service or an authorisation voucher from a GP.
- The Flu Friend must have identification for both the patient and themselves, such as a utility bill, passport, credit or debit card, driving licence or NHS card.
What does Tamiflu do?
For more information about how Tamiflu works please read the following fact sheet http://www.northamptonshire.nhs.uk/healthy-living/What%20does%20Tamiflu%20do.pdf
Flu Friends
The council and NHS Northamptonshire are strongly encouraging residents to plan in advance in case of any illness by having a flu friend and to offer to be flu friends for neighbours who may live alone.
Flu friends can be relatives, neighbours or friends who will collect medicines, food and other supplies for someone if they get swine flu, so that they do not have to leave home.
If you have swine flu, it’s important that you do not go out because you might spread the illness to others. Ask a flu friend to go out for you.
What to do now:
- Find a ‘flu friend(s)’ and offer to act as their flu friend too
- Make sure you have a back-up flu-friend – just in case they are also ill
- Make sure you have each other’s telephone numbers
- Complete the flu friend form now and keep it in a safe place e.g. on the fridge or by the phone [download form]
- Make sure you know where your ID is. If you need antivirals your flu friend will need your ID in order to collect them. They will also need their own ID to collect the antivirals on your behalf, such as passport, driving licence or credit card.
- Think about neighbours who may live alone or family members that might need help and offer to be their ‘flu friend’
For more information, please visit:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/news/2009/swineflu.htm
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_097137
In brief - what can businesses consider doing to reduce the likelihood of swine
flu?
- Prominently display signs with the following advice:
- A description of the signs and symptoms of flu;
- Discouraging staff and visitors with flu symptoms from entering
workplaces and public buildings;
- Emphasising the importance of respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene at
all times - Arrange regular safe collection and disposal of washroom waste.
- Provide suitably positioned alcohol gel dispensers for hand sanitising
particularly at entrances. - Provide a supply of tissues.
- Clean surfaces frequently with conventional cleaning materials especially door
handles/push plates, phones, keyboards, remote controls, horizontal
surfaces etc. - Promote a culture that encourages unwell staff to stay off work until they
are well. - Consider conducting meetings by phone/video conferencing rather than a
gathering. - Review/develop Business Continuity Plans for an outbreak.