Answer:

Swine flu is a strain of flu, which can be serious for some people in at-risk groups. In the past, swine flu outbreaks mainly affected people who had direct contact with pigs. In recent flu seasons, swine flu has spread from person to person. The official name for it is ‘novel influenza A (H1N1).

Answer:

Two years ago, the swine flu outbreak was treated separately from the normal seasonal flu. Last year, for many people, swine flu was the strain of flu they got, so in effect was the seasonal flu. Swine flu protection is now built in to the seasonal flu jab or vaccination.

Answer:

The symptoms of flu are a high temperature (over 38C) and at least two of the following:

• Widespread muscle and joint aches
• A cough
• Headache
• Blocked or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Vomiting
• Watery diarrhoea
• Cannot stop crying (only children)

If you suspect you have swine flu seek medical advice if:

• You have a serious underlying illness
• You are pregnant
• You have a sick child under one year of age
• Your condition suddenly gets much worse
• Your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child)

Answer:

The priority groups are reviewed each year in light of evidence on the virulence and severity of current flu strains. For example, pregnant women are now offered seasonal flu jabs.

Certain groups are at particularly high risk of severe disease if they get the flu:

• Front line health and social care workers
• Pregnant women
• Young children under five
• Elderly people, aged 65 or over
• People with chronic heart disease
• People with HIV infection
• People with chronic diseases: lung, kidney, liver, neurological conditions and diabetes
• People taking immune-suppressing drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy or anti-rejection drugs for transplants and who are immunosuppressed for other reasons

People in these groups should seek medical advice as soon as they get flu symptoms.

Answer:

Unless you are in an at-risk group, treat your flu symptoms at home. Continue to practise good hygiene and follow the Department of Health's advice:

• Maintain good basic hygiene; for example wash hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people. Alcohol hand-rubs are a good alternative if water is not available
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
• Dispose of used tissues promptly and carefully
• Clean hard surfaces (eg door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
• Make sure children follow this advice

Answer:

Flu viruses are made up of tiny particles that can be spread through the droplets that come out of your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

When you cough or sneeze without covering your nose and mouth with a tissue, those droplets can spread and others will be at risk of breathing them in. If you cough or sneeze into your hand, those droplets and the germs in them are then easily spread from your hand to any hard surfaces that you touch, and they can live on those surfaces for up to a couple of days.

Everyday items such as door handles, computer keyboards, mobile and ordinary phones and the TV remote control are all common surfaces where flu viruses can be found. If other people touch these surfaces and then touch their nose, eyes or mouth, the germs can enter their systems and they can become infected. That's how all cold and flu viruses, including swine flu, are passed on from person to person.

Answer:

For most people, recovery from flu happens in around five days. Special antiviral medicines are available in some cases, and some people may need to be admitted to hospital for treatment from severe flu symptoms and side effects.

Antibiotics don’t work for colds and flu, but they may be used to treat other conditions which may develop, such as bacterial infections in the lungs, like pneumonia.

Answer:

No. Always make sure you get the current seasonal flu jab each year if you are in an at-risk group, or chose to get vaccinated for work of other reasons. Each year the vaccine is updated to tackle the latest strains of flu, including swine flu.

Remember that the flu season may be different in other countries you may be planning to travel to, so a jab outside the normal UK flu season may be recommended by a travel clinic or your GP.

Answer:

The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to follow good hygiene practices. These will help to slow the spread of the virus and will be the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and others from infection.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recommends taking these steps:

• Maintain good basic hygiene; for example wash hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people. Alcohol hand-rubs are a good alternative if water is not available
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
• Dispose of used tissues promptly and carefully
• Clean hard surfaces (eg door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
• Make sure children follow this advice

If you have flu-like symptoms, a high fever plus two additional flu symptoms, stay at home and seek medical advice.

Answer:

The available scientific evidence shows that the wearing of basic facemasks does not protect people from becoming infected by flu viruses and are not therefore recommended for healthy people while in a community setting. Instead, people who have flu-like symptoms should stay at home and carry disposable tissues to cover their coughs and sneezes.

Answer:

A flu virus can survive for hours on hard surfaces, such as kitchen tops, doorknobs or tables. Some studies have shown that flu viruses can live for up to 48 hours on hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel and for up to 12 hours on cloth and tissues. The virus seems to survive for only minutes on your hands, but be aware that's enough time for you to transfer it to your mouth, nose or eyes.

Answer:

In recent years, the severity of cases of swine flu has varied widely, from mild cases to fatalities. In the most serious cases, those affected have tended to have already been suffering from another medical condition, and had not been vaccinated.