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Press Release - Pandemic Influenza Guidance for Homecare Providers

This guidance has been produced as part of good practice contingency planning and we encourage providers to familiarise themselves with the information provided in this document. This document is provided as a service to UKHCA members.

The following information is based on currently available public information but may be subject to change as more about the virus is discovered. Nothing in the information below is intended to contradict advice from the government and in the case of any conflict, follow government advice (see contact details below).

At the time of writing an outbreak of swine ‘flu in the UK and other countries could lead to a pandemic ‘flu outbreak, with the World Health Organisation classifying the pandemic alert level at Phase 5, meaning there are large clusters of virus but not sustained transmission in the general population. There are now sustained local outbreaks, and swine ‘flu could be at a peak in the UK within 50 days.

 General information

• The new strain of swine ‘flu, as a new virus, means that no-one will have built up immunity to it. It is spread through coughs and sneezes as others may breathe in the droplets or touch contaminated surfaces. The virus can last 24 hours on hard surfaces and 20 minutes on soft surfaces.
• The symptoms of swine ‘flu include sudden onset of fever, cough or shortness of breath. Other symptoms can include headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhoea, aches and pains, runny nose or loss of appetite. The incubation period is estimated to be between one and four days, most typically it takes two to three days for symptoms to start. It is estimated that someone with swine ‘flu will be infectious up to 5 days after the start of symptoms.
• Swine ‘Flu is an unpleasant illness but so far in the UK most cases have been mild, and the virus is one that normally leads to complete recovery within a week or so for most people who have no underlying health conditions. The danger from ‘flu is mainly from complications, especially pneumonia. Those who recover from the swine ‘flu virus may have some immunity to catching it again, although this is not certain as the virus mutates.
• Although antiviral drugs are not the cure, if taken within 48 hours they can relieve symptoms, reduce the length of illness by a day and reduce complications. People with the swine ‘flu virus have generally responded well to antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza. The UK stockpile is enough to treat half the population and is being expanded to cover 50 million people. Local healthcare services will put in place arrangements to distribute these to those who are symptomatic or at risk.

 For further information please see www.ukhca.co.uk

This article was published on 3rd June 2009

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