Useful Information

Swine flu is a respiratory disease and has some elements of a virus found in pigs. There is no evidence of this disease circulating in pigs in the UK and scientists are investigating its origins.

Swine flu has been confirmed in a number of countries and it is spreading from human to human, which could lead to what is referred to as a pandemic flu outbreak.

Pandemic flu is different from ordinary flu because it's a new flu virus that appears in humans and spreads very quickly from person to person worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring cases of swine flu globally to see whether this virus develops into a pandemic.

Swine flu latest from the NHS details that the government is to start distributing a leaflet on swine flu to all UK households produced by the Department of Health giving information about swine flu, including:

• More details about swine flu and how it could spread.
• What the UK governments have done to prepare for a wider outbreak of flu.
• What you can do to protect yourself and others against flu.
• Other actions you can take in case swine flu does become more widespread.
• What to do if you think you have flu symptoms.
• How you can keep up to date with the latest information about swine flu.

NHS website recommends that the following steps can reduce the risk of catching or spreading flu:

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue.
• Dispose of used tissues carefully.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Clean hard surfaces (e.g. kitchen worktops, door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.

Useful Links

World Health Organisation

Department of Health