How Surrey would cope with Swine Flu outbreak

Jun 16 2009

AS The World Health Organisation (WHO) declares swine flu as a pandemic reporter Vicki Eltis finds how Surrey PCT will cope.

SWINE flu in Surrey remains low but the WHO announced on June 11 that it was moving its pandemic flu alert level from five to six.

It means that the virus is widespread in two or more regions of the world, spreading as far as Japan and Australia.

In Surrey the situation remains stable with only 11 cases confirmed in the county. All the cases have been relatively mild and have responded well to anti-virals, some of those carriers may even be better now according to Surrey PCT.

Carriers of the flu have been given the drug Tamiflu and Surrey PCT say there is no problems with the amount of stock available. A spokesman said: "There is no problem at all with the supply of anti-viral drugs, including Tamiflu, and we have good stocks."

Dr Ruth Milton, Surrey's Director of Public Health, said: "The shift from WHO level five to six reflects an increase in the number of cases of swine flu across the world but in Surrey we still have a small number of cases.

"The NHS in Surrey is continuing to refine and update its plans in case the situation changes. At the moment it's very much business as usual and I'd encourage everyone 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 its chances to spread."

The symptoms of H1N1 swine flu are the same as seasonal flu, including aching, a high temperature, headache, cough, sore throat and generally feeling unwell.

Residents who feel they may have symptoms are encouraged to stay at home and ring NHS Direct of their GP for advice.

Treatment should ideally start within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

The spokesman at Surrey PCT believes surgeries will cope if they become overwhelmed. He said: "NHS Surrey has been working very hard with the Health Protection Agency, GPs, pharmacists and other colleagues in primary care to plan for pandemic flu over the last five years, so we are well prepared.

"In recent weeks, since swine flu has emerged as a new strain, we have been refining our plans as more detailed information becomes available and ensuring we target our initial efforts on containment of the virus."

He said that hospitals were very much part of the planning process for pandemic flu but reassured residents there were only a very small number of confirmed cases in Surrey.

Anyone with flu-like symptoms is advised to stay at home and contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or phone their GP. You can also call the swine flu information line on 0800 1513513 or log onto www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.