Enable JavaScript and install Adobe Flash player to view this content.
Swine Flu
What is Swine Flu?
Caused by influenza type A virus, there are regular outbreaks among herds of pigs, where the disease causes high levels of illness but is rarely fatal.
Autumn and Winter are the main times of year when Swine Flu is most prevalent, however it is possible to catch Swine Flu at any time.
In a similar way to ‘Human Flu’, because Swine Flu is always changing and adapting, there are many different types.
Swine Flu has only rarely been transferred to humans in the past. The latest pandemic is the largest scale that this has occurred on.
The transmission of the virus from Human to Human works in a similar way to regular flu viruses, which is through coughing and sneezing.
Symptoms - Do I have Swine Flu?
Symptoms so far have not proven to be too serious, however a small percentage of cases do develop to become more serious. The people that the virus seems to react worst in tend to have pre-existing conditions, such as heart or lung disease, which causes them to be at a higher risk.
Patients with swine flu typically have a fever or a high temperature (over 38°C / 100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms:
- unusual tiredness
- headache
- runny nose
- sore throat
- shortness of breath or cough
- loss of appetite
- aching muscles
- diarrhoea or vomiting
In the same way as any other type of Flu virus, the length of time that symptoms last varies by case and severity.
The majority of cases in the UK have tended to be fairly mild, lasting on average around a week.
What do I do if I have Swine Flu?
If you think that you may have Swine Flu, you are advised to check your symptoms on the new National Pandemic Flu Service website, or call the Helpline on 0800 1 513 100 (0800 1 513 200 for Textphone).
If you do have swine flu, you will be given a unique access number and told where your nearest antiviral collection point is.
If you are in any of the following positions the you should contact your GP instead of the National Pandemic Flu Service:
- you have a serious underlying illness
- you are pregnant
- you have a sick child under one year old
- your condition suddenly gets much worse
- your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child)
Prevent Swine Flu from Spreading
To help prevent the spread of the Swine Flu virus and to stop yourself contracting it you should:
- cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue
- throw the tissue away quickly and carefully
- wash your hands regularly with soap and water
- clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls) frequently with a normal cleaning product
Some Product Ideas for Getting over the Flu:
Beechams Max Strength Sore Throat Relief - Blackberry Lozenges (20)
£1.90
RRP £2.44 | You Save £0.54
Beechams Max Strength Sore Throat Relief - Lemon & Honey Lozenges(20)
£1.90
RRP £2.44 | You Save £0.54
Lemsip Max Cold & Flu Breathe Easy Lemon & Menthol Flavour 10 Sachets
£3.30
RRP £4.65 | You Save £1.35
