SurreyAlert
Sharing and Providing Information to Surrey in an Emergency
Swine Influenza
Swine flu update
We are continuing to see a steady increase in the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the county but this is no surprise following a rise in the number of cases nationally.
In all Surrey cases, people have developed a mild illness and made a full recovery.
Recently we have seen outbreaks at a small number of Surrey schools. This is to be expected and we have been working closely with the Health Protection Agency, Surrey County Council and the schools themselves to ensure the necessary actions are taken.
Helen Atkinson, Associate Director of Public Health at NHS Surrey explains:
“I know it can be worrying when swine flu is confirmed locally, especially for parents, but I want to reassure people that there is no need to worry. Although there is a chance of catching the virus, the symptoms seem to be similar to, and no worse than, the seasonal flu people catch every year. In all the cases we have seen in Surrey so far, they have all had mild symptoms and made a full recovery in days.”
“If someone has flu-like symptoms, they should stay at home and contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or phone their GP. It is important that they don’t go to their surgery or a walk in centre as this will help limit the spread of the virus.”
“We are continuing to monitor this closely and will continue to take advice from the Health Protection Agency as the situation in Surrey changes.” Helen added.
Our advice to you
The advice from NHS Surrey is that it’s still very much ‘business as usual’.
We would encourage people to go about their daily life as usual but also to think about what we can all do to keep the virus in check and reduce the chances of it spreading.
The simple and effective steps of regular hand-washing and the "Catch it. Bin it. Kill it." advice are key to keeping swine flu contained.
The best way you can protect yourself and your family is to:
- wash your hands regularly - This will reduce the chance of transferring any type of infection
- Catch it, bin it, kill it - cover your nose and mouth when sneezing. Use a tissue and dispose of it immediately to kill any germs.
Remember, good hygiene is key, whether you're at work, out with friends or travelling on public transport.
Anyone with flu-like symptoms is advised to stay at home and contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or phone their GP.
If you would like more information about the virus please call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513 or see www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
For more information view our frequently asked questions or visit www.hpa.org.uk
What should I do in an emergency?
In a major emergency, if you are not involved in the incident, but are close by or believe you may be in danger, the best advice is to go inside a safe building, stay inside until you are advised to do otherwise, and tune in to local radio or TV for information.
If you find yourself in the middle of an emergency, your common sense and instincts will usually tell you what to do.
Go in, Stay in, Tune in
The GO IN, STAY IN, TUNE IN advice is recognised and used around the world. It was developed by the independent National Steering Committee on Warning and Informing the Public as being the best general advice to give people caught up in most emergencies.
Surrey's Local Resilience Forum
Surrey's Local Resilience Forum (SLRF) co-ordinates the response of Surrey's emergency services and local authorities to major incidents.
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