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NHS Herefordshire and Herefordshire Council are working closely together, and with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Department of Health, and are well prepared to take any actions necessary in support of local people, based on national guidance in respect of swine flu.
Director of public health Dr Akeem Ali is Herefordshire's lead on the issue and he and his team is working with local clinicians and the public to ensure the necessary vigilance, access to advice and treatment and the reinforcement of public health messages about respiratory and hand hygiene.
"According to the World Health Organisation, the UK sits alongside France as one of the best prepared countries in the world", said Dr Akeem Ali.
"In Herefordshire, we are taking all the steps we need to at this stage to be prepared, but there are also a few simple steps that everyone can take to help prevent catching colds and flu based on good respiratory and hand hygiene. Always use a tissue to catch your sneezes, throw away used tissues where germs can linger and regularly wash your hands".
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a virus and outbreaks happen regularly in pigs although human infections can and do happen, most commonly in people who are around pigs. It has been determined that this particular virus - swine influenza A (H1N1) - is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
"The good news from Mexico and other affected areas is that given antivirals like Tamiflu early enough, the people who get this seem to be recovering", added Dr Akeem Ali. "The NHS has a range of measures in place, including enough antivirals to treat half the population of the UK if they become ill".
The NHS put plans in place earlier this year to increase supplies of flu drugs, making the UK one of the most prepared countries in the world. Agreements made with Roche and GlaxoSmithKline earlier this year doubled antiviral stockpiles. The contracts brought the UK's total capacity to 33.5 million treatment courses of Tamiflu and Relenza and Herefordshire has access to these treatment courses.
NHS Herefordshire has put in place robust plans, which have been informed by exercises on how to prepare for flu pandemic. The NHS keeps its plans under regular review and has published a range of guides that supports health and social care services to develop pandemic action plans including acute trusts (secondary care trusts) primary care trusts, ambulance trusts and social care trusts. It offers practical advice and suggestions for actions needed by GP practices now and in the event of a pandemic. This guidance is part of normal emergency preparedness planning in ensuring the NHS is best able to respond.
General healthcare advice for information:
Herefordshire is prepared for swine flu
29 April 2009
NHS Herefordshire and Herefordshire Council are working closely together, and with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Department of Health, and are well prepared to take any actions necessary in support of local people, based on national guidance in respect of swine flu.
Director of public health Dr Akeem Ali is Herefordshire's lead on the issue and he and his team is working with local clinicians and the public to ensure the necessary vigilance, access to advice and treatment and the reinforcement of public health messages about respiratory and hand hygiene.
"According to the World Health Organisation, the UK sits alongside France as one of the best prepared countries in the world", said Dr Akeem Ali.
"In Herefordshire, we are taking all the steps we need to at this stage to be prepared, but there are also a few simple steps that everyone can take to help prevent catching colds and flu based on good respiratory and hand hygiene. Always use a tissue to catch your sneezes, throw away used tissues where germs can linger and regularly wash your hands".
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a virus and outbreaks happen regularly in pigs although human infections can and do happen, most commonly in people who are around pigs. It has been determined that this particular virus - swine influenza A (H1N1) - is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.
"The good news from Mexico and other affected areas is that given antivirals like Tamiflu early enough, the people who get this seem to be recovering", added Dr Akeem Ali. "The NHS has a range of measures in place, including enough antivirals to treat half the population of the UK if they become ill".
The NHS put plans in place earlier this year to increase supplies of flu drugs, making the UK one of the most prepared countries in the world. Agreements made with Roche and GlaxoSmithKline earlier this year doubled antiviral stockpiles. The contracts brought the UK's total capacity to 33.5 million treatment courses of Tamiflu and Relenza and Herefordshire has access to these treatment courses.
NHS Herefordshire has put in place robust plans, which have been informed by exercises on how to prepare for flu pandemic. The NHS keeps its plans under regular review and has published a range of guides that supports health and social care services to develop pandemic action plans including acute trusts (secondary care trusts) primary care trusts, ambulance trusts and social care trusts. It offers practical advice and suggestions for actions needed by GP practices now and in the event of a pandemic. This guidance is part of normal emergency preparedness planning in ensuring the NHS is best able to respond.
General healthcare advice for information:
- Cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and use tissue when possible
- Dispose dirty tissues promptly and carefully
- Maintain good basic hygiene particularly washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people.
- Clean hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
- Making sure children follow this advice
Information for UK travellers planning to visit or returning
from the United States and/or Mexico can be found on the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/
Travellers to affected areas are advised to consult a doctor
immediately if they show signs of flu-like symptoms. If people
are concerned because they have been to Mexico and are
developing influenza like symptoms, don't go to your GP, stay
at home, call them or contact NHS Direct on 08 45 46 47 or via
the web at http://www.nhs.uk/
For more information and some general questions and answers, see the Swine Influenza page