Swine flu arrives in Britain


HEALTH experts last night urged Merseysiders not to panic about global outbreaks of swine flu.

Representatives from The Health Protection Agency said travellers returning from affected countries should be aware of symptoms, but do not need to worry.

So far the nearest suspected case is in Sale, Greater Manchester, where an overseas visitor was being tested last night.

Dr Alan Radford, senior lecturer in infectious diseases at Liverpool Veterinary School, said: "Infectious viruses have a long history of being transmitted from one species to another. When they do that, they tend to be more explosive.

"The World Health Organisation has a sliding scale of seriousness from one to six, and at the moment we are in the middle at number three.

"So while we are in a difficult situation and people should be a little bit concerned, they can also take some confidence that the UK and the world in general have a programme in place on how to respond to infectious viruses.

"This includes the stockpiling of antiviral drugs that can treat the disease.

"But it will be a rapidly changing situation and we should know more in the next few days about how the virus is transmitted, and how far it is spread."

Prof Malcolm Bennett, co- director for the National Centre for Zoonosis, at the University of Liverpool, said: "At the moment, people do not need to be too concerned.

In the medium term, nobody really knows because it’s in an early stage of the outbreak. It may be that it will disappear because we are at the end of the influenza season. But we just have to keep watching it.

"If it spreads and spreads then everyone needs to be far more worried."

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease normally found in pigs. It is suspected to have killed more than 100 people in Mexico, with cases also reported in the USA, Canada and Spain.

Antiviral drugs can effectively prevent and treat the infection, and most reported cases outside of Mexico have recovered fully without the need for medical attention.

But the UN has warned that the virus has the potential to become a pandemic.

Liverpool’s executive member for health, care and safeguarding Cllr Ron Gould, a professional pharmacist, said: "There will undoubtedly be concerns about swine flu.

"A lot of people go to Mexico on holiday from this area, but if they're not showing any symptoms that's fine, but we’ve got drugs including Relenza and Tamiflu.

"One works on the effects of the disease and the other tries to stop it spreading. But it seems the problem with this particular flu is it affects healthy people in the age range 15 to 45 and attacks the immune system."

"People should ring their doctor first or contact NHS Direct, but if they really feel ill they should go to A and E.Spokesperson for the HPA in Merseyside, Hugh Lamont, added: "People visiting these countries should be aware of the symptoms and if they experience them they should seek medical help.

"People coming back should monitor their health and call their GP or NHS Direct for a phone consultation if they start to develop flu symptoms."

THE DAILY POST

Bring it on, I welcome the challenge.

Don't go squealing to the doc if you do get it.

Which he prob will.

Do you not think it's just another bird flu,Sars or mad cows disease dilema?? All the media do is blow everything out of proportion and panic people.
We were all going to die from all three of the above but all three failed to materialise.
I hope that I am right.

You mean you haven't put in your bulk order of Tamiflu yet lucifer?

not yet cos at the moment I really think they are just banging on again like they normally do

It's like millenium bug?? planes were gonna fall out the sky and the world would stop?? that never happened either,A distraction from whats really going on in the world maybe?

recession you mean?

Spanish flu 1918, trying to hide WW1

Excactly what I mean mate...they think everybody is as thick as sh*t like they are. thay should shut up until they know something for definate.it's all speculation and that really boils my p*ss!!

I watched 'newswipe with charlie brooker' last sunday bbc4. Good show-he demonstrates/ takes the piss out of how the media mis-represents the news.

Old MacDonald had a farm...ee-eye, ee-eye oh

But DEFRA closed it due to outbreaks of Swine Flu, Bird Flu and Mad Cows Disease.

Apart from the faults the media have, a hell of a lot of people died due to the spanish flue in 1918, people died due to mad cows disease and people have and are dieing of this swine flu.
common sence is whats needed, cancell your holiday to Mexico and go to Blackpool or Rhyl instead, ha ha

How well did the Swine Flu considering he didn't have any wings?

Have you been to Rhyl recently jimbob?? More likely to get something like Cholera - it's like a ghost town. Not like it used to be when we were younger. It's a shame.

how far does Gordon Brown fly?? Jimbob I recognise what you are saying about the Spanish Flu but this government and the media have put out so many hyped up warnings in recent years that I,and no doubt many others think it is just a distraction from the real issues around the world. If the government really thought it was a threat to the nations population, then why has the government only ordered enough USELESS surgical masks for 32M people, when there is infact over 60M living here in the U.K?? Also, if anybody remembers, around the time the farming industry was blighted by so called Mad cows diease,Foot and mouth,Bird flu and now swine flu, they was wanting to produce Genetically modified crops!! my personal view is that the timing of all this was so uncanny.
And the plan is destroy the farming industry,bankrupt the farmers and buy thier land cheap.So they can use it for such reasons...conspiracy theory?? maybe but this is just my opinion.

"So they can use it for such reasons...conspiracy theory??"

New prisons?

While there may be something in what you say - it does also credit the authorities with more acumen and intelligent planning ability than I would personally be prepared to give them

Snod

Surely if it was THAT much of a serious threat they would put a blanket ban on ALL air/sea travel

There are now 2 ways this government can make a big saving {money wise} and get the country out of the mess its in. Dont give the anti flue treatment to the over 60s. No 1 it will save a lot of money pension wise because us over 65 will all be dead of this flue and no2 it will after its all over allow the NHS to be reduced in size due to us oldies no longer been arround filling up the hospitals. HOWS THAT GRAB YOU ALL

If all air and sea travel was stopped, we in this country and many other country's would all starve in a couple of weeks. how do you think we get all are food into this country.

Hence I said IF it were that serious! IF it were that serious, there is a way round the situation you give as an example. Let them load the ships and planes, only essential minimum staff to travel, no contact with those at the other end i.e. here, we (the staff at the docks and airport) unload it. No contact required. Simples.

Initially what I meant was all non-essential travel i.e. holidays, business trips (why have video conferencing if you don't use it ffs). Apart from Gordon Brown and his cronies - they can all go but we'll refuse them entry back into the country

Apparantly you can only contract Swine flu if you've been in contact with an infected pig recently.

the world health are taking it serious. after all prevention is far better than digging big holes for us humans like they did in this country for all the cattle. When you talk about travel, there are not many islands compared to the large land masses arround the world. so do you stop people walking

Prevention is indeed better, but how do you prevent zoonotic diseases? It wasn't my suggestion to stop people travelling, I merely said that if it were that big a risk it would maybe be on the "list of things to do" in such a situation.

Dont stop people travelling, Im going to Disney in 2weeks.

You'll have to walk

Lets hope you don't bump in to Pinky and Perky.

Robbo, can you dig us a tunnel, its only Paris, shouldn't take you that long.

There already is one - surprised he hasn't been to check it out yet Unless it's on his list now that he's an old fart

If it was that serious i think someone would of built a bomb shelter and stacked up food lasting a good few years to hide it off avoiding human contact. This movie came into my head but apart from it being a nuclear its hiding from the swine flu lol

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Thankyou for pointing out my itellect...it's so obvious when tou think about it?? MI6 will be here in a bit ll

I doubt this is serious but if it is to STOP ALL TRAVEL BY AIR SEA AND LAND!! we don't need and can't afford another wave of migtant virusus in any form...is anybody aware of what the head of Englands head of G.P's in England said today?? Stop worrying it can be treated.Would anybody now object if I said you would put a dog in quarentine if he/she came from a foriegn land for six months?? but people from all over the shop are not tested and releaesd into society?? carrying any7 kind of infection?? hello another useless pun by the oh so slck guv!!!

Can I also tell people 130 in 300M in mexico city is not alot of people!!!

30 milllion i meant but it's still not a lot compared to a global epedemic....of what?? a cold?? the mexicans haven't revealed how old they was or nothing and have okly confirmed 23 deaths...hype!!!

Can I just clarify that I was NOT suggesting that they DID BAN all air/sea travel!!! (see above quote). It was merely an observation that it could not be quite as serious as the media are making out! By all accounts it is treatable so no worries! People die in this country every year from "normal" Flu so what's the problem? Do I dare say that it could be said it is merely a case of nature's natural selection, survival of the fittest etc*.





*please note that the post states "could be said". It in no way reflects the views or opinions of the site or the original poster*

Wirral swine flu plans in place


HEALTH adminstrators say plans are well in place to ensure Wirral GPs and Arrowe Park Hospital have sufficient supplies of swine flu anti-viral treatments.

The World Health Organisation last night raised the alert level to phase five, which means it believes a global outbreak is imminent.

It also signals there is sustained human-to-human spread in at least two countries, and that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.

The alert upgrade came after three more people in Britain were confirmed as having the illness, including a 12-year-old girl.

Wirral's response to the increased alert is being managed by Liverpool Primary Care Trust, which has assumed "gold command" status.

A spokeswoman said: "Liverpool PCT is responsible for leading the NHS response across Merseyside on planning for potential outbreaks of infectious disease, and, at a local level, we are currently ensuring that all preparations are in hand.

"The UK has been preparing for a flu pandemic for the last five years. We have established a stockpile of enough antivirals to treat more than 33 million people, that is to say, half of the United Kingdom population.

"NHS Wirral are working to ensure that arrangements are in place to support distribution of antivirals, should this become necessary.

"All NHS organisations have pandemic flu plans in place and the Department of Health is now working closely with the NHS to ensure that these plans can be put into action so that antivirals can be made available to the public very rapidly should we reach that stage."

A letter sent to all 66 Wirral councillors from the town hall's Health, Safety & Resilience Operations Manager says the council, along with other partner agencies, has been meeting on a daily basis at what is termed a Strategic Coordinating Group to monitor the situation and agree any actions.

It states: "We have along with all our multi-agency partners been working on Infectious Human Diseases (Pandemic) planning for a number of years now and therefore you can be reassured that many of the issues that we could possibly face should the situation escalate, have been discussed and exercised/tested between ourselves on a number of occasions."

The Government's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, said he was "concerned but not alarmed" after the alert level was increased to phase five.

Sir Liam told BBC Breakfast: "Most people who get flu, even a new strain of flu, will make a good recovery. It's a nasty illness but it's short and they will recover."

Anyone who has been to the affected areas of Mexico and/or the U.S. and is experiencing influenza-like illness should stay at home to limit contact with others, and seek medical advice from their local health professional or by contacting NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

THE GLOBE

Swine Flu: Liverpool PCT answers your questions

Swine Flu (H1N1) – Frequently Asked Questions Is the NHS prepared for a possible pandemic?


The UK has been preparing for a flu pandemic for the last five years. We have established a stockpile of enough antivirals to treat more than 33 million people, that is to say, half of the United Kingdom population.

All NHS organisations have pandemic flu plans in place and the Department of Health is now working closely with the NHS to ensure that these plans can be put into action so that antivirals can be made available to the public very rapidly should we reach that stage.

PCTs are working to ensure that arrangements are in place to support distribution of antivirals, should this become necessary.

How will you keep the public up-to-date?


We already have well advanced plans for providing information to the public in the event of a pandemic, in particular about what people can do to help themselves in the event of swine influenza being confirmed in the UK.

What do the public need to do?

We can all take simple measures to prevent infection, in particular covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and washing hands regularly.

Anyone who has recently travelled to the affected areas and is experiencing influenza- like illness should stay at home to limit contact with others and seek medical advice by phone from a local health professional or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

If you’ve travelled to one of the affected countries and do not have any flu-like symptoms, you do not need to take any further action.

How are you making sure that GPs and other staff are up-to-date?

We keep our plans under regular review. The DH has published a range of guides that supports health and social care services to develop pandemic action plans including acute trusts (secondary care trusts) primary care trusts, ambulance trusts and social care trusts.

They offer practical advice and suggestions for actions needed by GP practices now and in the event of a pandemic.

What is Swine flu?

Swine influenza is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract in pigs. The mortality in pigs is low and recovery usually occurs within seven-10 days.

Swine influenza viruses have also been detected in wild birds, poultry, horses and humans, but interspecies transmission is considered a rare event.

Swine influenza is rare in people and there have been no cases detected in the UK for over ten years. Where cases have been seen in the rest of the world these have sometimes been linked to contact with pigs but often no link is ever discovered. In the US there is an active swine influenza surveillance programme to monitor pig viruses as they see more diversity in viruses than in any other country.

Why is it affecting humans?

Infection with swine influenza virus has been detected occasionally in humans since the 1950s and human disease is usually clinically similar to disease caused by infections with human influenza viruses.

Cases of swine influenza in humans usually occur after a history of exposure to pigs, i.e. direct or close contact with infected pigs.

Person-to-person transmission, as suspected in the cases currently under investigation in the US and Mexico, has been previously reported but appears to be rare. Through the regular seasonal influenza surveillance that is done in Europe, a single case was reported in November 2008 in Spain, with mild symptoms.

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.

You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe.

Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

What treatment is available?

Antiviral drugs are available to treat influenza. They reduce the length of symptoms and usually their severity. Testing has shown that the human swine influenza H1N1 can be treated with the antiviral oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).

What measures can I take to prevent infection?

General infection control practices and good respiratory hand 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.

*Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.

*Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people.

Is this the next influenza pandemic?

It is too early to say whether the cases in Mexico and the US will lead to a larger outbreak or could represent the appearance of potential pandemic strain of influenza virus.

There is currently insufficient evidence to understand the extent to which cases in Mexico and the US are firmly linked or to make a complete assessment of the health implications of this new virus.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) is the decision maker in terms of declaring an influenza pandemic and elevating the global stages of pandemic alert. Experts from around the world are working in close collaboration with WHO to help determine what risk this situation poses to global public health.

If someone who has been to the affected areas of Mexico and/or the U.S is feeling sick what should they do?

Anyone who has recently traveled to the affected areas and is experiencing influenza like illness should stay at home to limit contact with others, and seek medical advice from a local health professional or by contacting NHS Direct on color:#CC0000]0845 46 47.[ [/color]

A letter sent to all 66 Wirral councillors from the town hall's Health, Safety & Resilience Operations Manager says the council, along with other partner agencies, has been meeting on a daily basis at what is termed a Strategic Coordinating Group to monitor the situation and agree any actions


do we start praying now if we have to rely on them

Depends if they got enough tea and biscuits at their soiree.

Merseyside swine flu woman on the mend


MERSEYSIDE’S first case of the deadly swine flu virus has been confirmed.

The woman, rumoured to be from Maghull, is currently recovering at home after returning from a trip to Mexico last week. She has been treated with anti-viral drugs and is described as “responding well to treatment”.

The woman has not been admitted to hospital at any point and her family members have also been given medication as a precaution.

It is the 10th UK case to be confirmed – the total number is now believed to be 11– with other cases stretching form Polmont, in Scotland, to Paignton, in Devon.

Local health officials have urged Merseysiders not to panic and say the region is well prepared.

Dr John Reid, Director of the HPA in Merseyside said: “With this case, all the correct precautions have been taken.

“Family members and other close contacts have been treated and the patient has stayed at home.

“This is central, and we urge people in Merseyside returning home from Mexico with flu symptoms to phone their GP or NHS Direct, as opposed to going to a surgery or hospital, which could spread the virus.

“The difference with this flu compared with outbreaks in the past is that we have large stocks of the anti-virals needed to treat it in place.

“They are being made available, as in this case, to the people who need them.

“We are working closely with GPs to make sure this happens.”

But Dr Reid says the public also need to follow general advice issued. He said: “Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze and do it into a tissue, then throw it away and thoroughly wash your hands. We need to make sure people are ready so if it does move into the next phase, which is a level six alert, the region is prepared.”

It is thought Primary Care Trusts will make arrangements for people who do need to visit a hospital or surgery, to prevent any further spread of the virus.

A HPA spokesman added: “People who have been in contact with the patient or the patient’s family but have not been contacted should be reassured that they do not require treatment.” The first person contracting the disease from within the UK was also confirmed yesterday.

Graeme Pacitti, 24, tested positive for the virus after coming into contact with football team-mate Iain Askham, who fell ill after his honeymoon in Mexico.

Mr Askham and his new wife, Dawn, from Polmont, near Falkirk, Scotland, were released from hospital yesterday after spending five nights in isolation.

An 11th case – a Year 7 schoolgirl from South Gloucestershire – was also confirmed last night.

ANYONE with any concerns can telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647

THE ECHO

I wish the media would stop calling this virus 'deadly'. Its just to sell more newspapers.

I was reading today that H1N1 is possibly milder than they had first thought. It also lodges in upper respiratory tract (nose/throat). It is not like bird flu (H5N1), which is more dangerous because it lodges lower in the respiratory tract (lungs), making the likelihood of pneumonia more possible.

Also, only 15 of the 150-plus people to die in Mexico of flu have been confirmed as actually having it. We don't yet know either what their state of health and welfare was before they got the virus.

Nine new swine flu cases confirmed


Eight new cases of swine flu in England and another case in Scotland have been confirmed by health officials.

Three adults and six children are affected - and they bring the total in the UK to 48.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said one adult case is associated with travel to Mexico, and the children are associated with a school that has since been closed.

She said one of the adults is from the East Midlands and the seven further English cases are in London.

A 19-year-old from Greenock in Scotland has also tested positive for the disease after coming into contact with someone who had travelled to Mexico.

He is being treated at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow for a chest infection, although his condition is not serious.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "So far all infections in the UK have been mild, and cases have been diagnosed and treated early. This reduces the severity of symptoms and helps to limit the spread. But we must not be complacent - it is right to prepare for the possibility of a global pandemic."

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced that a significant step had been made towards producing a vaccine for swine flu.

He has been told that researchers hope mass production could begin in the coming months.

According to Mr Johnson the Government's objective is to produce enough vaccine for future outbreaks, as well as annual seasonal flu. Of the 48 confirmed cases in the UK, 43 are in England and five in Scotland.

THE ECHO