Swine Flu
In June 2009 the World Health Organisation declared that there was a pandemic of swine flu. As part of Edge Hill University’s pandemic flu plan the following information is provided to students and staff and will be regularly updated.
- What is swine flu?
- How do people become infected with swine flu?
- How long does the virus live on surfaces?
- What are the symptoms of swine flu?
- How long does it take for people to develop symptoms after infection?
- Which people are most vulnerable from swine flu?
- How severe is the illness caused by swine flu?
- What can I do to improve my chances of avoiding it?
- What should I do if I think I have swine flu?
- What should you do if a member of staff or student develops symptoms whilst in class or work?
- What should I do if someone in my work team, class, building or campus has contracted swine flu and has been sent home?
- What should I do if someone in my work team, class, building or campus has contracted swine flu and I am pregnant or have a serious medical condition?
- What are vaccines and antivirals?
- What documents are needed to be able to collect the antivirals?
- How much contact should I have with family and friends?
- What if I need someone to care for me? Will they catch my swine flu?
- What steps is Edge Hill University taking to cope with the Flu Pandemic?
- What can I do?
- What should I do if I think I’m infected?
- Where can I obtain further information?
What is swine flu?
Swine flu or A(H1N1), is a new influenza virus that has never before circulated among humans. It is not related to previous or current seasonal influenza viruses.
How do people become infected with swine flu?
Swine flu spreads in the same way as ordinary colds and flu. The virus is spread through the droplets that come out of the nose or mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.
If someone coughs or sneezes and does not cover it, those droplets can spread about one metre (3ft). If you are very close to them you might breathe these in.
If someone coughs or sneezes into their hand, those droplets and the virus within them are easily transferred to surfaces that the person touches, such as door handles, hand rails, phones and keyboards. If you touch these surfaces and touch your face, the virus can enter your system and you can become infected.
How long does the virus live on surfaces?
The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours, and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.
What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu. People with swine flu typically have a fever or high temperature (over 38oC/100.4oF)) 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.
How long does it take for people to develop symptoms after infection?
It takes between three and four days after exposure and infection for symptoms to appear.
Which people are most vulnerable from swine flu?
Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with:
- Chronic (long term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years,
- Chronic heart disease,
- Chronic kidney disease,
- chronic liver disease,
- Chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis),
- Suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment),
- Diabetes,
- pregnant women,
- people aged 65 or older, and
- young children under five.
How severe is the illness caused by swine flu?
Up to now the majority of people who have contracted the virus have experienced mild symptoms and have recovered without antiviral treatment or medical care. Of the more serious cases reported worldwide, more than half of hospitalised people had underlying health conditions or weak immune systems.
What can I do to improve my chances of avoiding it?
You can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading flu by:
- Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible;
- Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully - bag and bin them;
- Avoiding non-essential travel and large crowds whenever possible;
- Maintaining good basic hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face, or to other people;
- Cleaning hard surfaces (for example, kitchen worktops, door handles) frequently, using a normal cleaning product.
What should I do if I think I have swine flu?
If you feel unwell and are experiencing flu-like symptoms
(i.e. if you have two of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache or limb/joint pain):
You should stay at home to limit contact with others and call the National Pandemic flu service on 0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200 (text phone) or go to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu.
Students should also telephone the academic staff in their faculty to let them know they have flu-like symptoms.
Academic staff should let Student Services know of any student reported absent with flu.
Line managers should notify the HR Helpdesk if staff are absent with swine flu.
What should you do if a member of staff or student develops symptoms whilst in class or work?
If flu-like symptoms do develop while at work or in class, the person should be advised to go home straight away and call the National Pandemic flu service 0800 1 513 100 or 0800 1 513 200 (text phone) or go to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu.
Other staff or students who have been in contact may continue to attend the university unless or until they themselves develop any symptoms.
Those with respiratory conditions and medical conditions that may be seriously affected by the flu should seek urgent advice from their GP and inform their manager or academic supervisor of the action that has been recommended.
What should I do if someone in my work team, class, building or campus has contracted swine flu and has been sent home?
Staff or students who have been in contact with someone who has swine flu may continue to attend the university unless and until they themselves develop symptoms.
Those with respiratory conditions and medical conditions that may be seriously affected by the flu should seek urgent advice from their GP and inform their manager or academic supervisor of the action that has been recommended.
What should I do if someone in my work team class, building or campus has contracted swine flu and I am pregnant or have a serious medical condition?
Those with respiratory conditions and medical conditions that may be seriously affected by the flu should seek urgent advice from their GP and inform their manager or academic supervisor of the action that has been recommended.
What are vaccines and antivirals?
Anti-virals are drugs used to treat the symptoms of flu and they should not be mistaken for vaccines. Two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem to be effective at treating cases that have occurred so far. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective. Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others. A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine contains an agent that stimulates the body’s immune system to recognise the agent as foreign, destroy it, and “remember” it, so that the immune system can more easily recognise and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounts.
What documents are needed to be able to collect the antivirals?
The flu friend must show their own ID as well as that of the patient. The authorisation number and ID information will be checked to ensure that it matches the information provided when the assessment of symptoms was completed.
Acceptable forms of ID are:
- A utility bill;
- Passport;
- A credit or debit card;
- Driving licence;
- NHS card.
How much contact should I have with family and friends?
If you have swine flu, avoid unnecessary contact with family and friends while you are infectious, which is usually until five days after your symptoms started (seven days in children). Once your symptoms have gone, you are no longer infectious.
Keep one metre or more away from people’s faces to avoid droplets from your throat affecting others. Where possible, you can avoid exposing your partner to infection by sleeping in the spare room.
What if I need someone to care for me? Will they catch my swine flu?
If you are unable to look after yourself at home, ask a friend or relative to collect medicines and groceries for you, order any repeat prescriptions, help with basic household tasks, such as cooking, and generally care for you.
If your friend or relative keeps their distance from you wherever possible and you both have good hygiene (sneezing into a tissue and washing your hands thoroughly), there is a good chance that they will not catch the infection.
What steps is Edge Hill University taking to cope with the Flu Pandemic?
The University has a Pandemic Flu Plan in place that outlines the actions that should be taken at different stages of a pandemic. The action plan deals with the following key areas:
- Hygiene and control of infection;
- Communication and information to staff and students;
- Operating with potentially high rates of absence;
- Cleaning services;
- Support to students and staff who are ill.
We have been making sure that we have adequate channels of communication available to inform the whole University about swine flu. We are also ensuring that our business continuity plan is updated.
What can I do?
You can reduce, but not get rid of, the risk of catching or spreading swine flu by:
- Always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing;
- Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully;
- Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing your hands often with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face, or to other people;
- Cleaning hard surfaces, such as door handles, often and thoroughly using a normal cleaning product.
What should I do if I think I’m infected?
If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu, stay at home, read about swine flu symptoms and check your condition using the National Pandemic Flu Service.
Phone your GP if:
- You have a serious existing illness;
- You are pregnant;
- You have a sick child under one;
- Your condition suddenly get much worse;
- Your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child).
The National Pandemic Flu Service is a new online service that will assess your symptoms and, if required, provide an authorisation number that can be used to collect antiviral medication from a local collection point. For people who do not have internet access, the service can be accessed on:
- Telephone: 0800 151 3100
- Minicom: 0800 151 3200
For more information, go to the Flu service: Q & A.
If it is confirmed that you have swine flu, ask a healthy relative or friend to pick up your antiviral medication for you.
In the meantime, take paracetamol-based cold remedies to reduce fever and other symptoms, drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.
Don’t go into your GP surgery or to a hospital, as you may spread the disease to others.
