This information is intended to supplement the NHS Pandemic Flu leaflet – ‘Important Information for You and Your Family’, which you should have already received. Flu pandemics occur when a new strain of the flu virus emerges that is capable of infecting people and spreading from person to person.
It will spread rapidly because few of the population will have any immunity to the new strain.
Control will be difficult as it is likely that a vaccine will not be available immediately against the new strain of flu and anti-viral medicines may have a limited effect in reducing the effects of the disease.
Information about flu · Flu is caused by a number of different types of ‘flu’ viruses.
· The incubation period is 1-4 days and infected adults are usually contagious from the day before to 5 days after illness onset.
· Fever usually declines after 2-3 days and normally disappears by the 6th day.
· Cough, weakness and fatigue can persist for 1-2 weeks and up to 6 weeks.
· Antibiotics do not benefit most people with flu but are sometimes needed to treat secondary infections.
What can I do to try to prevent catching flu? You can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading pandemic flu by adopting Personal Hygiene measures such as:
· 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, for example 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 (e.g. kitchen worktops, door handles) frequently, using a normal cleaning product
· Making sure your children follow this advice – set a good example
Symptoms Symptoms are generally of sudden
onset and include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Headache
- Severe weakness and fatigue
- Aching muscles and joints
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
The symptoms of pandemic flu are similar to ‘ordinary’ seasonal flu.
However, in the case of pandemic flu, these symptoms are likely to be worse.
Symptomatic treatment If you do catch flu, experience suggests that some of the following may help, and are unlikely to cause harm.
·
Stay at home and rest
· Contact NHS Direct or the Practice for guidance and advice on your symptoms
· Take medicines such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen to relieve the symptoms (following the instructions with the medicines). Children under 16
must not be given aspirin or ready made flu remedies containing aspirin.
· Drink plenty of fluids
· Avoid smoking
· Consider: steam inhalation, short course of topical decongestants, throat lozenges, and saline nose drops
What should I do if I catch flu? ·
Stay at home and rest
· Maintain your personal hygiene as shown above
· Try ‘Symptomatic Treatment’
· Contact the practice
if your condition worsens
· Contact your Flu Friend to collect your medicines on your behalf.
How will a flu pandemic affect your GP Practice? During a flu pandemic, there will be a high demand for appointments at your practice.
In addition to dealing with a large number of patients with flu symptoms, we will also have to deal with demand for appointments from patients with routine and urgent medical problems.
Practice staff will be vulnerable to catching flu, which will inevitably mean a reduction in the number of staff available to provide patient services.
In order for us to maintain continuity of services to our patients we have prepared a Pandemic Flu Continuity Plan.
During a pandemic, we plan to maintain essential services which will include providing:
- Appointments in practice and at home for patients with urgent (non flu)conditions
- Appointments in practice and at home to treat patients with flu
- Repeat prescription service
The level of service that we are able to provide will be dependant upon the number of staff available. As the number of practice staff increases we can then provide appointments for patients with routine conditions.
We will endeavour to keep you informed of the progress of any flu pandemic and the implications it is having on our provision of services.