Swine Flu Outbreaks in Britain

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Britain has been shown to be well and truly in the grip of the swine flu pandemic as newly released figures reveal there has been a 50% rise in the number of cases in the past week. Family doctors have provided data showing that the virulent influenza strain is spreading rapidly across the country.

This week, fears grew about the threat the disease poses when a previously healthy six-year-old girl from North-West London, Chloe Buckley, died. She was the second healthy person to die from the virus.  Children have proved the most likely to catch the infection, with 160 per 100,000 becoming infected, compared to 93.9 per 100,000 adults. There has been some concern that she was not immediately prescribed Tamiflu after her illness was initially diagnosed as tonsalitis.

GPs have reported that the panic created by Chloe’s death has lead to them coming under a great deal of pressure from infected patients and their families. However the NHS have advised that there is no reason for people to be especially anxious.

Currently, doctors are dealing with the onslaught of patients by performing phone consultations, as sheer numbers have meant that swab tests are impractical. Those prescribed Tamiflu are given voucher code, which their ‘flu buddies’ – family members or friends caring for them – can use to pick up the medication.

There has been some confusion as to whether Tamiflu should be prescribed as a matter of course to any one diagnosed with swine flu. While the NHS website pages on swine flu advise that any one diagnosed with the infection send a representative to pick up anti-viral medications, advice being circulated by the Royal College of GPs indicates that it is not necessary to give Tamiflu to an otherwise healthy patient.

Summarising feedback from doctors in a submission to the House of Lords, the Royal College of GPs noted “Family doctors also noted that conflicting advice was being provided by different agencies.” Professor Steve Field, who chairs the body, said that the advice regarding Tamiflu was given to allow GPs “more discretion” when dealing with those in low-risk groups and also to show patients that Tamiflu was not always necessary.

Today it was confirmed that Cherie Blair has been lain low with the virus, which has forced her to pull out of a ceremony where she was due to receive an honorary doctorate  from Hope University in Liverpool. Since she developed symptoms on Tuesday, she has been prescribed anti-viral medication and bed rest.

Article Source: http://www.theukarticledirectory.co.uk