Swine flu

I returned from North America last week & I'm feeling unwell.
Fearful of swine flu I went to see my GP today.
She asked me how long I've felt unwell.
I replied for about a wee wee wee wee eek.

They won't give the jab without symptoms.

It's not an inoculation, you have to have the flu and the jab acts on the symptoms, apparently.

There is no 'jab'. A vaccine to prevent swine flu is many months away.

There are anti-virals which may moderate the illness and possible reduce the infectivity of the sufferrer. These are tablets (or an inhaled version for certain individuals ie pregnancy).

There is a specific protocol for giving anti-virals, and also for collecting them etc. If you have symptoms first PHONE your surgery. Do not just make an appointment; you may infect the entire waiting room.

The policy on giving anti-virals to well contacts of a patient (ie classmates of the girl you mention) has changed, they are not used except in a few specific situations. The initial plan was to try to contain infection by treating contacts, this has been abdandoned as the disease has spread rapidly.

Keep up to date at the Health Protection Agency Website or NHS Direct.

Bruce

Well I don't know about you Bruce, but it's really kicked off here this week. Several hundred phone calls, don't even bother trying to get a line most of the time.
Fortunately, nobody's been particularly ill.

quote:

Originally posted by Rockingdoc:
Well I don't know about you Bruce, but it's really kicked off here this week. Several hundred phone calls, don't even bother trying to get a line most of the time.
Fortunately, nobody's been particularly ill.

Handfuls of queries daily only so far but no local cases. I get the sense it is just a matter of time.

Inconsistent advice from the HPA has not helped when we have had some questions. The systems for obtaining Rx have not been established for when it goes mad because our PCT also has its head in the sand (or up its posterior more likely). One of the delights of being seen as a far flung rural outpost of the york-centric organisation.

I have two colleagues on sick leave and we are just about to start the summer vacations with more away on holiday. It is going to be entertaining....

Hope you are coping alright.

Bruce

I'm in LA, I"m not out that much but leery of big crowds etc. Try to wash my hands. but this is good reason to have a friend over, stay home and play music.

Well it seems to be arriving in Worcester alright, and this evening I called by a friend who is sickening for a cold or flu. So with luck I shall catch it in the warmth of the summer rather than in the damp and cold later in the year, when its effects may be more serious.

I take a stoic view of such things - better get it over with all the sooner, and if it shortens my life, well then it must have been likely in any case.

ATB from George