Public Healthiness England (South West) are warning of an boost in flu and respiratory conditions, including Swine Flu, in schools and classrooms across the region.
The South West director of public Healthiness has advised parents along with children along with flu-enjoy symptoms to sustain them off school for a week, to avoid the spread of the bugs.
But just what is swine flu? Is it still worrying the globe Healthiness authorities, and just what must you do regarding it?
Swine flu is the popular name for influenza (flu) caused by a relatively brand-new strain of influenza virus A. It was responsible for the flu pandemic in 2009-10.
The virus is officially known as influenza virus A/H1N1pdm09.
The virus was very first identified in Mexico in April 2009 and was additionally known as Mexican flu. It became known as swine flu due to the fact that the virus closely resembled known influenza viruses that induce health problem in pigs.
It spread promptly from country to country due to the fact that it was a brand-new sort of flu virus that few people were immune to.
The pandemic proved to be relatively mild and was not as significant as originally predicted. As in various other countries, most cases reported in the UK were mild.
However, a small lot of cases resulted in significant health problem and death. These were mostly in the fairly elderly, fairly young, pregnant women, or people along with a pre-existing Healthiness condition, such as cancer, that had already weakened their immune systems.
On August 10 2010, the World Healthiness Organization (WHO) declared the pandemic was officially over.
Seasonal Flu
The virus now circulates global as one of three seasonal flu viruses. The various other viruses are influenza virus B and influenza virus A/H3N2.
The symptoms of flu caused by the H1N1pdm09 virus are similar to those of various other types, and include:
- a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
- tiredness
- aching muscles or joint pain
- a headache
- a runny or blocked nose
Most people recover within a week, even devoid of special treatment.
However, some people are at a greater risk of problems and are recommended to have actually the seasonal flu jab. The 2015-16 seasonal flu jab involves protection versus three types of flu virus, including H1N1pdm09.
When to see your GP
If you are otherwise match and healthy, there is usually no should visit your GP if you have actually flu-enjoy symptoms.
See your GP if you have actually flu-enjoy symptoms and are at a greater risk ofcomplications of seasonal flu. This includes:
- children under two years old
- anyone over the age of 65
- pregnant women
- children and adults along with an underlying Healthiness condition (particularly long term heart or respiratory disease)
- children and adults along with weakened immune systems
Vaccination
The seasonal flu jab is available for free on the NHS for those at risk and is offered as an annual injection to:
- adults over the age of 18 at risk of flu (including everyone over 65)
- children aged from 6 months to two years That are at risk of flu
The flu vaccine is additionally offered as an annual nasal spray to:
- children aged 2 to 18 years at risk of flu
- children aged two, three and four
- all kids in school years 1 and 2
Read much more write-up regarding who must have actually the flu jab and why pregnant women must have actually the flu jab.
How is swine flu treated?
The finest remedy is to rest at home, sustain warm and drink plenty of water to stay away from dehydration.
You can easily take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lesser a higher temperature and relieve aches.
If further treatment is called for or problems develop, medication is available to address flu caused by the H1N1pdm09 virus. This includes:
- antiviral medications – oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) advice relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of significant complications
- antibiotics – to combat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, which might occur as a complication of influenza
If you are prescribed antivirals, you will certainly should pay a prescription charge (unless your prescriptions are normally devoid of charge).
Preventing the spread of flu
The H1N1pdm09 virus is spread in specifically the exact same means as the common cold and various other flu viruses.
The virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come from the nose and mouth As quickly as somebody coughs or sneezes.
These droplets usually spread regarding 1 metre (3 feet). They hang suspended in the air for a while, However after that land on surfaces, where the virus can easily survive for up to 24 hours.
Anyone That touches these surfaces can easily spread the virus by touching anything else. The virus is additionally transmitted by infected people That cough or sneeze in to their hands then touch various other people or objects prior to washing their hands.
Everyday items at estate and in public places might have actually traces of the virus. These contain food, door handles, remote controls, hand rails, paper cash and computer keyboards.
People usually become infected by choosing up the virus on their hands from contaminated objects then placing their hands near their mouth or nose. It is additionally feasible to breathe in the virus if it is suspended in airborne droplets.
Good hygiene, such as hand washing and cleaning, is the most efficient means of slowing the spread of flu. Antiviral medication and the seasonal flu jab are additionally offered to people at risk.