SteveR Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 With the demand of people with illness? I too work for the NHS at the moment and I can assure you, the guidelines given etc aren't all that scary. At first they treid to contain it: close schools, treat everyone at risk etc, but that didn't work so the best overall action to take changes. See here: As more people catch the virus in their communities rather than from abroad, it has become less effective to try and contain Swine Flu. To allow health services to spend more time and energy treating the increasing numbers who have the virus, the government has decided to move from containment and outbreak management policies to the treatment phase. The move from containment to treatment will apply in all four nations of the UK- England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This means that:GPs will be able to diagnose swine flu on the basis of symptoms rather than waiting for laboratory testing all tracing of people who have been in contact with a sufferer will stop people who may have been exposed to the virus will not be given anti-viral drugs anyone who is diagnosed with swine flu will continue to be offered anti-virals until further notice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multics Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 There must be a scientific reason as to why they're not giving antivirals anymore. In the beginning they said that the country had more than enough antiviral stock for the whole population (or almost). So why are they not giving it, even if it's mild? Are they worried that by giving more antivirals the virus might develop resistance and mutate? Steady_Dave, I hope you feel better soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fifty Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 ANTIVIRAL apparently can make you vomit for 2 days; only reduces illness by 1 day but does reduce your infectability -Sky News Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guigsy Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Not quite sure about that. It's affecting cities like Birmingham and London which are no different density-wise than Paris or Rome or Berlin etc etc... Thats not what i mean. We have large cities like Manchester, Birmingham and London all within 150 or so miles or less of each other. With other towns and villages crammed in between. Countries like Spain and France have VAST expanses of nothingness. If you have ever flown over Spain you will realise when you look out of the window that basically its full of bugger all and then the odd village or town. Population density of Germany = 230 people/km squared. Population density of Spain = 90 people/km squared. Population density of Italy = 199 people/km squared. Population density of France = 116 people/km squared. Population density of England = 392 people/km squared. England has a much higher density of people, therefor infections etc travel easier and faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steady_dave Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 There must be a scientific reason as to why they're not giving antivirals anymore. In the beginning they said that the country had more than enough antiviral stock for the whole population (or almost). So why are they not giving it, even if it's mild? Are they worried that by giving more antivirals the virus might develop resistance and mutate? Steady_Dave, I hope you feel better soon Cheers buddy. As with any virus it's constantly "improving" itself. Tamiflu is not "that" effective against H1N1 anymore. Luckily my mother used to be heavily involved in running the "Pandemic taskforce" in the NHS so i'm constantly getting updates from herself when something happens. I think that come november this is going to be alot worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multics Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Thats not what i mean. We have large cities like Manchester, Birmingham and London all within 150 or so miles or less of each other. With other towns and villages crammed in between. Countries like Spain and France have VAST expanses of nothingness. If you have ever flown over Spain you will realise when you look out of the window that basically its full of bugger all and then the odd village or town. Population density of Germany = 230 people/km squared. Population density of Spain = 90 people/km squared. Population density of Italy = 199 people/km squared. Population density of France = 116 people/km squared. Population density of England = 392 people/km squared. England has a much higher density of people, therefor infections etc travel easier and faster. I know what you mean about greater distances and population density. But a virus does not have to travel itself, it gets travelled by the humans which travel relentlesly in and inbetween cities. Scotland got the virus very very early and spread like mad after that, it didn't have to travel all the way from Mexico by itself... Take Frankfurt which is a big financial centre with airplanes going in and out all the time, suits and ties going back and forward from US, Japan, UK and all over the place. How come the virus is not spreading there in the same way as it's spreading here? City, same density as here. I don't think that distance really matters, we're all connected a flight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 What about this though? seems the Doctor died of a blood clot http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20090714/tuk-swine-flu-gp-died-of-natural-causes-dba1618.html so press panic as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steady_dave Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 That's most of the problem with swine flu, it's completely over-hyped and spreading the word of paranoia around the country/world. I'm not saying it's nothing to worry about, as it has killed people, but as different type's of flu go, it really is the daewoo matiz of flu's. Compared to seasonal flu Swine flu is nothing, but then again it will be come 3 months down the line as this H1N1 strain is rapidly mutating itself to survive. Heard on the radio this morning that it might be a lot longer until there is a vaccine for this. The government say they have been told it will be ready within a month, but no-one is sure whether it will be safe or not. Whether that's once again scaremongering to get a better news story or the fact that they're not going to do extensive testing due to the urgency I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 ...but then again it will be come 3 months down the line as this H1N1 strain is rapidly mutating itself to survive. Yesterday and today I heard the WHO say the opposite: it's not changed enough to worry about, although some samples of the virus taken from people who got ill (and later fully recovered) did show mild resistance to the Tamiflu drug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 The new strain of ebola in pigs should be more of a worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Multics Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 The new strain of ebola in pigs should be more of a worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Whoop! Add me to the list. I have apparently got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Whoop! Add me to the list. I have apparently got it. How were you diagnosed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Over the phone. The better half came home and said "you have swine flu". You know what women are like, so I dismissed it. She went on and on so I agreed to do the test online. It came back as go see the GP. I phoned the help line, they asked about 50 questions and then diagnosed me with it. TBH it feels exactly like a nasty cold.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Over the phone. The better half came home and said "you have swine flu". You know what women are like, so I dismissed it. She went on and on so I agreed to do the test online. It came back as go see the GP. I phoned the help line, they asked about 50 questions and then diagnosed me with it. TBH it feels exactly like a nasty cold.... Hmm, that's what I suspected was going on. I wouldn't be certain you have it. There is no longer a potential to contain it, so to avoid a deluge of people asking for a [detailed] diagnosis, the default answer right now is "you've got Swine flu, take these tablets", but a lot of the time that's not likely to be true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Well yesterday i was diagnosed with swine flu thru the NHS thing, and today i feel a bit groggy, but pretty much better.... Im glad i didnt get straight on the Tamiflu! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keancy Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 If you catch flu (ie influenza, not a 'cold') you WILL be off work cos you won't be able to get out of bed I guarantee you that! Only ever had Flu properly once about 10 years ago, was horrid spend 3 days in Bed and thought that was it. ANTIVIRAL apparently can make you vomit for 2 days; only reduces illness by 1 day but does reduce your infectability -Sky News Rich Don't think I would take Tamiflu even if I got positively diagnosed, have you read the side effects of that sh*t??? I would get them all as I normally do so if I get it it will be Bed rest, Fluids and Paracetamol for me. PS: To all of you who have got it I hope you are better soon x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBDJ Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 My 7 month old son was in hospital following an air leak from his lungs; they tested him whilst he was in and the results came back positive for swine flu. Any kind of illness is not really good for him given his current medical condition and the drug cocktail he is on! Tamiflu on the list too now the poor bugger! Was quite entertaining; he'd been in hospital a few days in his own room but the nurses were in and out no problems. Suddenly it's all masks and no visitors - bit late now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keancy Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Hmmm, feeling like total crap today, whole Body aching, dodgey Tummy and I suddenly developed a tickly annoying cough :o Hope I am wrong watch this Space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra_aero Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Hmmm, feeling like total crap today, whole Body aching, dodgey Tummy and I suddenly developed a tickly annoying cough :o Hope I am wrong watch this Space O dear. Hope you are ok. By the way put the old avtar back - I miss the cat working out doing push ups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keancy Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 O dear. Hope you are ok. By the way put the old avtar back - I miss the cat working out doing push ups I will see if I still have it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keancy Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Well I am at Home day 2 now but I am not convinced I have the Swine Flu. I have every single symptom of swine flu but not the high temperature, could I still have it?? I have bad Tummy, nausea, feel giddy, tired and I am in so much pain all over my body mainly around the lower back area ( No I haven't put my back out, different kind of pain). I dare not go to my Doctors though in case I do have it. I did the Q & A thingy online yesterday and the NHS have issued me a number for Tami flu (Don't wanna take it anyways). Just don't know what to do for best, feel a bit better today but have cold sweats and the Pain in my Body is driving me mad. Anyone else had any of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 You have it. Phone the number. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 last 2 days had very mild headaches, nose running like niagra falls and slight aching of bones / joints. Was feeling hot yesterday but checked temperature and was only 98.6 or something simiolar. So noticable work called me into an office on wednesday saying you are showing flu like symptoms lol Woken up today feeling much better still runny nose. I think i probably have it but ive always had a strong immune system. So some lemsip and good nights sleep seems to of helped me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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