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Swine flu
Swine flu - everything you need to know
The sections below provide health and travel advice and more information on what swine flu is, what to do if you think you have it and what the government is doing to help combat it.
National Pandemic Flu Service
If you are in England and feel like you may have swine flu, visit the National Pandemic Flu Service by following the link below, or call 0800 1 513 100 (textphone - 0800 1 513 200).
People who have swine flu symptoms will be given a unique access number and told where their nearest antiviral collection point is. They should then ask a flu friend - a friend or relative who doesn't have swine flu - to go and pick up their antivirals from their nearest antiviral collection point. The flu friend must show their own ID as well as that of the patient.
Check your symptoms
Follow the link below or call 0800 1 513 100 (textphone - 0800 1 513 200)
Contact your doctor directly rather than using the National Pandemic Flu Service if:
- you have a serious underlying illness
- you are pregnant
- you have a sick child under one year old
- your condition suddenly gets much worse
- your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child)
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
If you are in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland the advice is different.
Follow the 'information around the UK' link below.
Latest news - 19 November 2009
There were 53,000 new cases of swine flu in England last week, down from 64,000 new cases.
The Health Protection Agency estimates there have been 715,000 cases of swine flu in the UK since the pandemic began.
Swine flu vaccine
The swine flu vaccination programme is to be extended to cover children between the ages of six months and five years old.
Children in this age group will be offered the vaccine once the vaccination of people in high-risk groups, such as those most at risk from seasonal flu and pregnant women, is complete.
For more information on the swine flu vaccination programme, follow the link below or download the swine flu vaccination information leaflet.
Hajj and Umrah
The elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases and children are advised to postpone the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages this year.
Everyone who does travel to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage will be screened for swine flu.
Evidence that you are sick
You do not need to provide a doctor’s sick note for the first seven days you are sick. If you are sick for more than seven days, you will need to ask your doctor for a sick note for your employer.
For more information, follow the link below.
Do you have swine flu (influenza A H1N1)?
Symptoms of swine flu include a fever, cough, headache, weakness and fatigue, aching muscles and joints, sore throat and a runny nose.
Learn how to check if you have swine flu and who is most at risk.
Treatment and prevention
Find out how and where to get antiviral drugs to treat swine flu.
You can also find out more about the swine flu vaccination programme, or find tip son how to limit the risk of catching it in the first place.
Pregnant women and parents
If you are a parent or expectant mother, follow the 'schools, parents and pregnant women' for tips to keep yourself and your child safe from swine flu.
Pregnant women can also find information by downloading the 'swine flu and pregnancy' information leaflet.
Travel advice
If you have swine flu, do not travel until after your symptoms have stopped.
If you need to cancel your holiday, keep all the original documentation you receive, including the label from your medication, as insurers will need it to validate your travel insurance claim.
Travelling to the UK
While there have been cases of swine flu in the UK, travel to the UK is not restricted.
If you get swine flu while in the UK you will be able to access the same advice and treatment as UK residents. However, if you have symptoms of swine flu, you should delay travelling until you are well.
Government action
The National Pandemic Flu Service has been launched, with antivirals available at local collection points. If you feel like you may have swine flu, visit the new website by following the link below, or call 0800 1 513 100.
Find out what else the government is doing to help combat swine flu and protect everyone living in the UK.
Swine flu and businesses
The NHS has issued detailed guidance for employers.
Business Link carries information on business risks and continuity planning and on the Business Advisory Network for Flu.
Additional links
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Swine flu information
Around the UK
Information leaflet
This Department of Health leaflet has been delivered to homes nationwide
