NHS Herefordshire and Herefordshire Council confirm that as predicted, there has been a rapid increase in the numbers of diagnosis of swine flu in Herefordshire by local GPs.
In line with the government decision to move to from a 'containment' phase to a 'treatment' phase earlier in the month, Herefordshire is no longer swabbing possible cases and sending them for laboratory testing. Instead GPs are making an immediate diagnosis and prescribing treatment, which means national and local figures on confirmed cases of swine flu are no longer available.
NHS Herefordshire, the primary care trust, confirms that swine flu is now very much part of the community across the whole of the West Midlands and that people should ensure they understand what they must do to limit the spread of the illnesses, and what to do if they have flu-like symptoms.
Herefordshire Council is aware of several schools and nurseries in the county that have very small numbers of pupils that have been diagnosed and they are being treated and recovering at home. Several employers will also have reports of staff being diagnosed.
The management of the nurseries and schools are working closely with the health agencies and Herefordshire Council to monitor the situation. Further guidance has been distributed to all schools, nurseries and early years providers in the county from the director of public health and the director of the council's children's services.
In the meantime, hundreds of employees in the council and the primary care trust have come forward to be redeployed to staff a local swine flu information line and antiviral collection points, both of which are ready to be activated should they be required.
NHS Herefordshire stresses that health services are managing the current number of cases and for the vast majority of patients the illness is generally moderate, and people do recover quickly.
The primary care trust and the council confirm there is no need for nurseries or schools to close if pupils or staff are diagnosed, and there is no need for people to stay away from work unless they have flu-like symptoms. People should not go to the county hospital's accident and emergency unit or to their doctors if they suspect they have swine flu. Instead they are advised to contact their local doctor or NHS Direct on 0845 4647. Symptoms include fever and one of the following: cough, headache, runny noses, joint/limb pains, diarrhoea or sore throat.
If swine flu is diagnosed, the GP will give the patient an authorisation voucher, and local people are asked to identify a 'flu friend' who can collect their medication for them, as well as obtain daily essentials, without coming into close contact with the patient.
The primary care trust has not named the schools to give them time to ensure they have communicated with and reassured all pupils, parents, staff and members of the school community.
In line with national pandemic flu plans, the government decided on 2 July that the UK would move from a 'containment' phase to a 'treatment' phase. Efforts to contain the spread of the virus bought valuable time to learn more about the new virus, to build antiviral stocks and to start to develop a vaccine.
Scientists expect to see rapid rises in the number of cases and GPs and NHS Direct will now provide clinical diagnosis and prescribe treatment, rather than take swabs and await the results of laboratory testing. This means that the Health Protection Agency are no long publishing daily figures confirming swine flu and therefore it is impossible for Herefordshire to provide a running commentary on actual numbers of cases.
Currently the government is not advising avoidance of mass gatherings or social events and there are no restrictions in place. The council and the primary care trust are also working closely with the organisers of the forthcoming Big Chill Festival at Eastnor Castle, on 6 to 9 August, and others like Nostock on 31 July to 2 August at Bromyard, to ensure hygiene measures are in place to diagnose and treat festival goers who may contract swine flu.
The government has signed contracts to secure enough vaccine for the whole population of the UK and in Herefordshire, the primary care trust is putting in place plans to be able to offer the vaccine as soon as it becomes available in the autumn this year. The swine flu vaccination programme will be delivered through GP practices and schools.
NHS Herefordshire, Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust and and Herefordshire Council established in April 2009 a Public Health Incident Team to plan for, advise on and manage the swine flu pandemic in Herefordshire. The team works closely with the Health Protection Agency and Department of Health, as well as a range of agencies in the county, to provide help and advice for local people.
The NHS has been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic since 1998 and the UK is among the most prepared countries in the world. NHS Herefordshire, like all NHS organisations in the West Midlands, has a Pandemic Influenza Plan. The NHS has enough antivirals to treat half the population of the UK if they become ill.
Respiratory and hand hygiene
The Public Health Incident Team says it is still very important for everyone to take the simple steps that will help prevent catching colds and flu, which are based on good respiratory and hand hygiene. These steps are:
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue.
- Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
- Maintain good basic hygiene - wash hands often with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people.
- Clean hard surfaces like door handles often, using a normal cleaning product
- Make sure your children follow this advice.
Information about swine flu
The Department of Health has launched a Swine Flu Information Line - 0800 1513513 - which contains pre-recorded messages giving background to the disease and what we can all do to prevent its spread. It will refer callers who need more assistance to NHS Direct
A national door drop of information leaflets was undertaken but copies can also be downloaded from www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu. A mass public health campaign has been undertaken with TV and radio to remind people of the measures they can take to contain the spread of swine flu.
Information for public can be found on the NHS Choices information and advice service: http://www.nhs.uk/ as well as the Department of Health website: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm and the Health Protection Agency website: http://www.hpa.org.uk/
For local information visit the swine flu page of this website and the primary care trust web site: http://www.herefordshire.nhs.uk/
Schools and other children's services are expected to be operating as usual and there is guidance published on planning for, and responding to, pandemic flu. This can be found on the Teachernet website:: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/emergencies/planning/flupandemic/
Business Link carries information on business continuity and on protecting the workforce on: www.businesslink.gov.uk/swineflu
The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform website also has further references: http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/further-education-skills/guidance/flu-guidance
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website gives advice if you are travelling overseas: www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/swine-flu. If you come back from one of the affected countries abroad and have flu like symptoms, stay at home and call your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.