FENLAND: Council issued detailed advice on swine flu as virus spreads across district

FENLAND District Council has issued advice on swine flu, as the virus starts to spread rapidly across the district:

FENLAND District Council has issued advice on swine flu, as the virus starts to spread rapidly across the district:

Swine flu - what you need to know

Swine flu is now spreading fast throughout the country and there are likely to be more cases in Fenland over the coming weeks. So it is very important that people are aware of the symptoms and know what to do if they think they have the virus.

Since the illness was first detected in the UK, Fenland District Council has been working closely with Cambridgeshire County Council and NHS Cambridgeshire to prepare for an outbreak here. It has now issued some detailed advice.

Symptoms

The symptoms are similar to ordinary flu and can include fever, cough, headache, weakness and fatigue, aching muscles and joints, sore throat and runny nose.

Most people who have contracted swine flu have shown mild symptoms and made a full recovery.

Anyone who has flu-like symptoms and are worried that they have swine flu should stay at home and check their condition by:

• Phoning NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visiting .

• Calling the National Swine Flu Information line: 0800 1 513 513.

• Phoning their GP, who will be able to provide a clinical diagnosis over the phone.

They should not visit their GP or attend hospital Accident and Emergency departments except in an emergency.

Simple measures to prevent infection include covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing hands regularly and throwing away any used tissues.

'At risk' groups

Some groups of people are more at risk of serious illness if they catch swine flu. If swine flu is diagnosed and you are in a high-risk group, it is important that you take the anti-viral medication as soon as possible - within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Those known to be at higher risk are pregnant women, people aged 65 years and older and children aged under five.

Also at increased risk are people suffering from chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease, immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment), diabetes mellitus and patients who have had drug treatment for asthma within the past three years.

Flu friends

Because the virus is spreading fast, people are also advised to ensure that they have a suitable amount of paracetamol-based cold remedies to hand and to establish a network of friends and relatives known as "flu friends" who can help if you fall ill by collecting medicines and food.

If you are diagnosed as having swine flu, you will be told where your anti-viral medication should be collected from.