Developing robust and resilient surveillance arrangements - Swine flu update
Lindsey Davies, National Director of Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, Department of Health
Speaking through a video link from her offices in Whitehall, Lindsey Davies, National Director at the Department of Health (DH), has delivered an important update on swine flu update to public health colleagues at the FPH conference.
What is swine flu?
The H1N1 virus. Currently a worldwide flu epidemic ie. a pandemic. The term ‘pandemic’ has nothing to do with the severity of the flu, but defines its geographical spread around the globe. At present the H1N1 virus isn’t behaving as previous flu viruses. It has remained generally a mild illness, although there have been a few severe cases and unfortunately now one death, in Scotland. The overall picture is still evolving, but more deaths are expected as the virus continues to spread.
Who is affected?
Surprisingly, not the older people. It seems that the over 60s are relatively well protected. Young children have been affected and the virus has spread quickly among them, particularly in schools. The 20-45 age-group seems to be most at-risk, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions. However, there have been cases of fit and healthy young people becoming severely ill. Pregnant women have also been seriously affected. So far the biggest outbreaks have been in London, Birmingham and Glasgow.
The UK response
For the moment containment methods have bought us some time. However, we cannot keep up the containment line indefinitely; this is already hard in Birmingham and Glasgow. We have a duty to use this time wisely to ensure that we are prepared for when the virus spreads across the whole country. There is also a serious risk that the flu will come back in the autumn, when it might evolve into a more severe form of the illness if it combines with the seasonal flu.
What next?
We have antiviral drugs to cover 50% of the UK population, but we must decide how we are going to use these stocks. Do we give the treatment to everyone who has the disease and risk reducing our stocks before a possible winter outbreak? Or do we focus on the ‘at risk’ groups (although these are hard to define?)
How do we distribute the antivirals? Do we depend on primary care services or the flu line over the telephone and the web?
Swine flu is a top priority for the DH and in the next week or two we will be able to give clearer answers to these questions.
How can health professionals prepare?
In the meantime, we must get our plans together and be clear about what our roles will be to enable the country to keep going.
You health professionals have an opportunity to be an ambassador to the public:
- Tell them about the importance of hygiene and be a hygiene role model yourself
- Urge them to take a proportionate response and not to panic
- Encourage them to go to or call their GP if they have symptoms that might be related to swine flu
Coughing and sneezing into a tissue, throwing the tissue away and regularly washing hands is a key containment method that everyone should follow.
Professionally, it is equally important to think about business continuity and keep up with information available on the Health Protection Agency and DH websites.
Personally, encourage your family, friends and colleagues to find a ‘flu friend’ who will be able to pick up the antivirals if they fall ill.
And ask yourself, do you have a flu friend?