Swine flu: public meeting called

NHS WARRINGTON has called a public information sharing meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) to outline local plans for dealing with an outbreak of swine flu.
The meeting will be held on the community floor at Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones

Stadium in Winwick Road at 1pm.
The Primary Care Trust (PCT) has, in the meantime issued the first edition of a community briefing designed to inform the public about the risk of a pandemic.
Swine flu is different from ordinary flu because it’s a new flu virus that appears in humans and spreads very quickly from person to person worldwide.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is closely monitoring cases of swine flu globally and now believe that a world-wide pandemic is imminent, with flu passing from person to person.
An NHS Warrington spokesman said: “Because it’s a new virus, no one will have immunity to it and everyone could be at risk of catching it. This includes healthy adults as well as older people, young children and those with existing medical conditions. However there is no need to panic.”
The Department of Health has started a national leaflet drop which should cover every home in the country. They have also set up a national flu information line on 0800 1513 513.
Locally, NHS Warrington has a robust plan for dealing with a pandemic, which is being kept under regular review. All local health providers, including Warrington Hospital, 5 Boroughs Partnership Health Trust and GPs, have action plans in place to deal with a pandemic.
The spokesman added: “We are taking all necessary steps for this level of alert.
“The PCT has been and will continue to work with all health care providers in Warrington on our local preparations for a pandemic.”
NHS Warrington will be distributing information posters and flyers this week with advice on how to prevent the spread of flu from next week.
More information will be available at tomorrow’s meeting.
The message for preventing the spread of flue is:
* Always carry tissues
* Use clean tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze
* Bin the tissues after one use
* Wash your hands with soap and water often – particularly after coughing or sneezing
* Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
* Make sure children follow this advice.
NHS Warrington says there is no conclusive evidence that face masks protect healthy people in their day-to-day lives – and if used incorrectly, masks may even expose people to infection.
“Instead, we want people to focus on good hand hygiene, staying at home if they’re feeling unwell with flu like symptoms, and covering their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. These are simple, proven ways of protecting yourself and others from infection,” said the spokesman.
“We are asking people to prepare now in case swine flu becomes widespread by establishing a network of ‘flu friends’ – friends and relatives – who can help if you fall ill. They could, for example, collect medicines and other supplies for you, so you wouldn’t have to leave home. As community groups you can support this by helping local people to set up flu friends networks.”
Should a pandemic happen, having a week’s stock of food and other supplies – including basic cold remedies – available at home, would be useful.
People with flu-like symptoms who have recently returned from Mexico or other affected countries are asked NOT to go to their GP or hospital.
Instead, they should call the Swine Flu Information line, their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
NHS Warrington have set up an email address, [email protected]