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Do you have any advice for people going on holiday?
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What do I do if I’m pregnant or want to get pregnant?
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Will a school close if there are cases of swine flu in a school?
Do you have any advice for people going on holiday?
Wherever you go on holiday, you should always take the same sensible precautions that you do when at home. Know where you can get medical advice if you or your family feel unwell and make sure you have over-the-counter medication for coughs and sneezes.
If you are going on holiday in the UK then you can call the National Pandemic Flu Service helpline. If you are travelling to Europe, make sure you have your free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to any necessary medical treatment, including for swine flu, during a visit to another European Economic Area country. You can get an EHIC application form from the Post Office, by calling 0845 606 2030 or by applying online at www.nhs.uk|
If you have swine flu, we recommend that you do not travel until after your symptoms have stopped.
Whenever you go abroad, always check the latest travel advice from the Foreign Office at: www.fco.gov.uk|.
What do I do if I’m pregnant or want to get pregnant?
Some pregnant women who catch the H1N1 (swine) ‘flu virus will develop complications of the infection (including pneumonia) that could put their own and their baby’s health at risk. The risks are greatest in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. It is too early in the pandemic of influenza to be able to quantify these risks for the individual but most pregnant women who catch the disease are likely to make an uncomplicated recovery.
Bearing these risks in mind, at present, mothers-to-be are not advised to curtail normal activities such as going to work, travelling on public transport, attending events and family gatherings.
They are advised to take the following steps to reduce their risk of infection and complications:
observe good hand hygiene (frequent use of soap and water or sanitizer);
wherever possible, avoid contact with someone who is known or suspected to have swine ‘flu;
if they have ‘flu-like symptoms, to make early contact with their General Practitioner who may advise treatment with antiviral drugs.
Some mothers-to-be may wish to continue their day-to-day activities but exercise their choice now, on a highly precautionary basis, to avoid large densely-populated gatherings where they have little control over personal contact.
When the pandemic reaches its height (probably in the autumn) as many as 1 in 3 people may be affected. At that point, I may make a more specific recommendation to mothers-to-be and others (e.g. those on chemotherapy) with weakened immune systems to avoid densely-populated gatherings.
There is no need for other family members (e.g. partners, children) to take special precautions but they should also practise good hygiene.
We advise everybody to plan their pregnancy carefully - we are not advising women not to conceive. Mums-to-be are more vulnerable to any type of flu. It is particularly important that anyone who has existing health problems and is thinking about starting a family should talk to their GP first, as they normally would.
Will a school close if there are cases of swine flu in a school?
As swine flu is spreading in the community, schools will not close just because there are cases of swine flu in the school. The decision to close a school will be taken at a local level depending on individual circumstances.