Swine flu – you ask the questions
Wednesday 29 April 2009
3:55 pm
An absolute cascade of emails has followed my request to you to send in questions for the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson.
We’re pretty hopeful he’ll be here to field them on tonight’s Channel 4 news – unless there’s another Cobra crisis meeting or some such. And if there is, we’ll get someone of the same standing.
Keep your questions about the outbreak coming. Either post a comment here or email the show on news@channel4.com
UPDATE: You can see Sir Liam Donaldson answering viewers’ questions on last night’s show in this video:
Owing to the tremendous reader response last night, we put a number of additional questions to other health experts. Their written responses are here: swine flu – more questions answered.
Related posts:
There are 129 comments on this post
The biggest worry – several people have said this to me – is that there could be a media cover-up. Every time someone in authority says “don’t worry”, it makes me think it’s worse than it is.
How will we ever REALLY know what’s going on?
The only group who is benefitting is the pharmaceutical industry.
You mean the pharmaceutical industry without whom we wouldn’t have the drugs, like tamiflu, which we need to treat people in this pandemic. They are just gettin their reward for having the foresight to develop drugs which might save lives.
My 21 year old daughter is due to travel to Florida, on holiday on Monday. Should she still go?
Thank you.
HI, my family are due to fly to Florida in a couple of weeks, is it safe to do so? My daughter has recently had Glandular fever so i am concerned greatly about this, so would you say that it is ok to go ?
Hi channal4,
I’m growing increasingly worried about swine flu and how quickly it seems to be spreading world wide.
it seems to be people with low immunities who are more vulnerable to this flu.
As a Mother to two very young children this seems to increase my anxiety.
I’m worried there is only enough meds for half the country?
who will be classed as priority?
I’M rather worried about the recent news today about the county that wants to mass kill all its pigs…..Will this solve the problem?
look back to the days of the black death in England…When the cats and dogs were killed in London it made the whole situation worse.
Id be very grateful to hear the answers to my questions in tonight’s news.
kind regards
vikki, a worried mother from the midlands.
People don’t die from the flu, it wipes out their immunity and they die from secondary infections such as phenomena and dehydration. This happens because there bodies are severely weakened from having the flu.
The people most susceptible to this are the very young or old or people who have existing medical conditions such as heart problems. In theory, even if there was a epidemic of flu in the UK there is more than enough anti viral to cover those at most risk including young children. Remember, Mexico is a third world country which makes them far less equipped to deal with the flu and more susceptible to infection than the UK. No one is really sure what happened in Mexico. Only time will tell.
I don’t think that this flu is any where near as virulent as is being made out. If it were the people who were on the plane with the confirmed cases would be quarantined in hospital. Aeroplanes are closed systems there is no where else for the virus to go except around the passengers. It would not just be one couple and a school girl who were testing positive.
I think it was Egypt who said the were preparing to slaughter their pigs. They’re government has a habit of over reacting. We went there when there was the SARS out break and they were testing all the passengers for it by taking our temperature as we were getting of the plane. The doctor actually apologised to me, said he knew it was stupid and that the government were making them do it. I think the Egyptian government just like to be seen to do things. And probably some sectarian reasons as well. I know that won’t help the pigs.
A member of the family has been confirmed with the flu today. They returned from Mexico on Saturday. They live at home with parents. My husband was with one of the parents on sat evening and monday evening, but I work in nursery and our kids go to school.
What should we be doing? The parents are not ill from the son who is infected. Husband been told to carry on as normal by NHS health.
Due to travel to Mexico early June. Can you see things being better or worse by then?
What do you say to the contradictory advice in the event that this reaches epidemic, to stay at home; when it is impossible to get a doctor to attend a home visit; or secure blood testing to assure that tamilflu isn’t administered in panic undermining it’s future effectiveness? What services are you offering in the event this becomes and epidemic? I struggle to get a doctors appointment already.
What do you say to the contradictory advice that in the event that this reaches epidemic, to stay at home; when it is impossible to get a doctor to attend a home visit; or secure blood testing to assure that tamilflu isn’t administered in panic undermining it’s future effectiveness?
What services are you offering in the event this becomes and epidemic? I struggle to get a doctor’s appointment already.
I’ve just arrived back from mexico and iv just heard about this flu . iv got a very bad cough and sore throat at the moment and im also sneezing alot. Are these signs of flu and what should i do ?
I would suggest that you go and get checked out just incase, however i don’t think you should pannic.
Me have had a flu jab at the beginning of the year. Will this work as a prevention from infection?
I feel really angry at the hysteria surrounding the story of a swine flu outbreak.
There have only been a few cases, the couple in Scotland who were unwell are recovering well.
On the radio they have said that the WHO has yet to decide if this is really a serious outbreak.
Yet the majority of the media have as usual run away with the story with sensationalised headlines about the NHS urgently looking for 32 million face masks etc… Swine flu hit the headlines in 1976 but there wasn’t this hysteria and not long ago we were all looking bird flu in the face.
I am not suggesting that there isn’t a danger but I also think that this kind of reporting is extremely irresponsible. It is as far as I am concerned scaremongering. Anxiety, stress and depression illnesses are increasing all the time, with huge amounts of people suffering from one or all of these conditions.
Is it any wonder people aren’t coping and are getting ill from stress when we are subjected yearly to sensationalised headlines that just cause fear and panic?
If there is a serious danger and people need to take precautions then we ought to be told what to do at that time. Otherwise what do the press and or government think they are achieving by frightening us all like this? It is totally irresponsible and unfair.
I wonder whether the government are just trying to deflect everyone’s attention away from financial crisis Britain is in. It’s really about time this sensationalised news coverage was put a stop to and we went back to even handed, balanced and reasonable reporting.
Yours Clare Webb
I must say I have a lot of sympathy with Clare’s view. This could well prove to be another case of the media blowing a story up in a sensational, ‘be very afraid’ manner, similar to avian / bird flu.
Unfortunately the shock headlines in the media don’t always reflect reality.
Governments of the developed nations are all working hard to assure us, what is the likely fate of peoples in the developing countries already suffering the scourge of AIDS? Will there be assistance for these countries or is it survival of the fittest?
As an asthmatic, I would like to know whether the ‘flu jab I had last year, or the pnuemonia jab I had a couple of years ago, will provide any protection at all from the swine ‘flu.
The name “swine flu” is a slight misnomer as it is believed pigs acted as a mixing pot for several flu strains, containing genetic material from pigs, birds and humans. How can this be possible?
Also is there a gestation period as the people who returned from Mexico all displayed symptoms after their arrival back in this country? The couple from Scotland even went back to work!! Who’s to say they hadn’t contracted the disease on the first day of thier holiday?
This could mean that people who shared an aeroplane/hotel/bus etc on the return journey with the first couple could be carriers without displaying symptoms yet. I fear this could just be the tip of the iceberg.
Why did none of people on return from mexico get quarantined on arrival to help stop further outbreak of this flu bug? Last time anything happened no-one was allowed off the boat until all clear was given.
Hey Jonny,
Without meaning to be controversial at this most sensitive of times, I know the virus originates from swines – but could you do me a favour and ask if it can be targeted at swines too? I kid you not – I know a few of them…
What is this swine flu, is it true that you can’t go out of the country because of it?
We’re hearing reports that there is a plentiful stockpile of tamoxifen vaccine in the UK, but if we are quickly hit with a pandemic will we actually have the medical staff to deal with it? The NHS is already strectched.
Layla
meant tamiflu in last message!
Hi,
Can you only get Swine Flu from people who have gone to Mexica and other infected places or is it airborne? So if it gets worse can you catch it!
Thanks,
howdo you know you got it
How is it being spread so easily, i dont understand why people are just being warned not to go to these places, being warned, is not gonna stop people from entering these places, in which, is going help spread the virus.
My daughter has an immune disorder (lupus) what will happen to those who are going to be at a higher risk of not only contracting but fighting the virus?
Should we be purchasing protective masks to protect ourselves from the Swine Flu?
I work in a doctor’s surgery, should I be taking any precautions at work?
I am due to travel to Prague for a two week meeting with colleagues from 15 different countries. I am unaware of whether any of these have been to Mexico or close to cases in their home countries. What precautions should I take? Should I still travel?
How do we get tamiflu in time for it to be effective (ie within 48hrs of symptom) – if it takes up to 2 weeks to get an appointmnent with the gp. GPs used to get very annoyed in patients came in with flu and they certainly will if 30 million arrive. Would it make sense for people to purchase or be given their ration of pills and wait for the pandemic to strike or to request prescriptions now if they are suseptible to flu eg asthmatics, immunosuppressed etc ?
if this is so bad why aren’t we following the 80/20 rule and focusing on tests/quarantine of those returning from mexico
Sir, I have a condition called aspergelosis what precautions should I take as my immune system is low?
ive got sore throat very painfull and ive been whit flu since las week. how can i get test to know if ive got it?
What’s the panic? How many people died from the flu outbreak the UK had this winter? Thousands I suspect. Apparently 20,000 people in the UK died from a flu outbreak in 2000. Nothing was said about that. And considering the population of Mexico City is around 9 million in the central area and around 20 million in the surounding areas, this is a drop in the ocean.
Hi, I am currenty in the UK and suffering with all the symptoms. Have i got swine flu or is it just a common cold or the normal flu ? Sypmtoms i have are a fever,runny nose,sore throat, coughing, and im tired and have a headach that seems to be making me feel a little weird. Thanks Could You Help ?, James Zimbalatti
how does swine flu kill you??????????!!!!!!
what if it goes around and half of the uk catch it ??? have they thought of a tablet to stop and help itt?
Is there any chance that you could stop with the scaremongering and merely report the facts, sans-drama?
how do we know that we will get ill also will it ever get to cornwll i’m really scared????
Hi. If the pandemic of swine-flu is inevitable (which it does seem at the moment), surely the most appropriate way of reducing the spread would be to quarantine people returning from the most infected areas (i.e. Mexico)?
I have had a cold, upset stomach, headache. I have not travelled to any affected area nor know of anyone who has, but I travelled on a busy ferry recently from uk. As I have low immunity should I be worried and contact the doctor or am I just panicking for no reason??
It was stated that the people on the flight who were with the infected couple from scotland were not able to be tracked down.If so does that mean that it could spread without the government knowing and do you think that a public statement should be made for the people to come forward.
It will presumably take a few days for the virus to pass from person to person in the UK. How will health officials identify and contain those with swine flu? For example, I have developed mild cold/flu symtoms today. I haven’t been to Mexico but have been in contact with someone with a bad cold/flu who is at a University and crowds at the London Marathon – both presumably good breeding grounds for viruses?
Dear John,
Our daughter is 18 months old and has been diagnosed with a genetic deficiency in the mannose-binding lectin, important for innate immune system function. Additionally my husband came back last week from the States (where he travelled through Dallas airport), he had for 2 days only a bad cold, headackes and fell very unwell. he is now better. We are worried that he might have been exposed to the virus. Would our daughter be more severely affected if she would get the virus (from my husband or anybody else) than a healthy child, who she respond to anti-viral treatment as well as another person?
many thanks for answering this evry specific question.
Catherine
Hi. If the pandemic of swine-flu is inevitable (which it does seem at the moment), surely the most appropriate way of reducing the spread would be to quarantine and test people returning from the most infected areas (i.e. Mexico) as soon as they depart the aircraft; ideally before they have chance to come into physical contact with unifected people?
Hallo
What is the difference between Swine flu and normal flu? Is it even possible to tell without visiting a doctor?
I and half the company I work for (about 6 of us so far) have been off work with what seems like normal flu over the last week and I know of at least 10 other people in Brighton and London that are suffering also.
hey,
well im due to fly back home to Australia this saturday and this swine flu is making me panic as im not sure how to prevent catching it. Im stopping off in Hong Kong for 5 hours and im worried how affected they are and i might come across someone at the airport or on the plane who is in affected. Do you have any suggestions or comments to help my mind be put at ease?
Thank you very much!!!
My employer is a very large national retailer, i work in a call centre. The policies and procedures regarding absence are engineered in order to try and limit absence for any reason, including genuine illness. Employees very often come to work through a sense of guilt, or that they will be subject to further procedures when they return and so risk spreading any virus. what advice will the government have for employers regarding employees being off work due to flu symptoms?
I returned from Ireland through Heathrow terminal 1 Monday night and borded a busy tube. Yesterday and today I have felt normal fluey conditions. Aches, sneezing. In Ireland there were several times when very plausible reasons for catching a normal cold occured – strong wind, rain and my neck was exposed.I stayed home from work today, I feel better like normal 2nd day of flu. Should I go to work tomorrrow?
I am only 14 and i have heard so much bout the swine flu over the past few days and as probably everyone thinks it is very concearning. me and my family are meant to be going on holoday in about 12 weeks and wondered if this flu breakout will affect it……also i think that they sould keep the students in schools informed as we would also like to know what is going on.
is it any more dangerous than the normal flu to a healthy person who isnt elderly or very young cause i dont really want to die
I am very concerned on which areas of england will be recieving masks to help prevent swine flu. I would like to know who is going to be recieving the masks, also what age groups and when, and if hey will be sent to schools? Thank you.
I’M WORRIED THAT BECAUSE OF OTHER RECENT DISEASES LIKE CJD AND BIRD FLU, WHICH HAVE COST THE GOVERNMENT ALOT OF MONEY IN COMPENSATION, THAT THEY WILL NOT WANT PEOPLE TO PANICK BUT MAY LEAVE THE WARNINGS TOO LATE AND PEOPLE MAY DIE BECAUSE OF THIS.
does the development of swine flu have anything to do with use of pig DNA in genetic engineering or medical experiments with pig hearts?
Hi there Can the doctor tell as what is the first sing of swine flu so we have to be prepared for it this it does worried very much
Where did swine flu come from if not from eating pigs?
Is swine flu spreading towards asia as well?
I am due to fly o Meico on the 2nd of June for my honeymoon. What advice do you offer regarding this situation despite it being 4 weeks away? Is it safe to travel even if the restricions are lifted?
Hi. Lately I have decided to get some chickens but my grandma and other members of my family have been telling me that swine flu is another strain of bird flu. Is there any risk of my chickens catching or should i not buy any chickens at all for now?
When do symtoms show? Whats to stop someone catching the virus when travelling to another country that is infected. Flights have been cancelled to Mexico (the source) but other countries have confirmed the virus – yet we continue to travel and go about our business. If it can pass from human to human, when will it stop and how? The school my children attend have 2 children returning to school tomorrow who have just returned from Mexico, many of the parents are worried about sending their children because of the risk. I know we can’t lock ourselves away until this is all over, but can we reduce the risk by asking travellers to stay away until a ‘clearing’ period has passed?
this is very worring as what is the first singh of can u tell as please.
thankyou
My husband spent the day with someone who came back from Mexico on Monday. We have a 5 week old and a 2 year old. Should I be worried?
i understand this h1n1 virus to be some sort of mutation combining swine flu, avian flu and human flu. why, then, are we calling it ‘swine flu?’
please remind us how the who defines ‘pandemic.’
peace
SARS/Avian Flu etc. and now Swine Flu, just to put this flu into perspective. 10%-15% of the population of Britain contract flu every year, 12,000 deaths relate to flu.
The usual media panic and hysteria have one again sent this flu strain into never-never land.
The Scottish couple have recovered and no doubt as is usual with flu it will attack the frail and young, it’s not any different but what never changes is the mass hysteria that’s being whipped up. Mark my words this will all be forgotten in around 10 days…
Im living in swansea with 4 other house mates , one has got flu like symptoms but is not drastically ill he is up and about . He has neither been or returned from mexico . Should i really worry about this?
why have to people returning from mexico not been quarinteened to help try to stop the spread
How many people worldwide have died of malaria in the last month? How many peole in Britain have died from the “ordinary” flu in the last month?
All the talk has been about people coming back from holidays in Mexico but has it ever occured that human to human transmissions is already in motion ?.
How serious is swine flu? Is it really any worse than a regular flu?
Why are passengers arriving back from Mexico not being quarantined and tested? Do UK airports have the detection programs that other nations, such as China, in place to detect those infected?
do i need to worry about the whole world getting swine flu? and how long do you think it will take till everyone gets it?
Can I still go to Work on the bus? I feel I am more likely to catch swine flu, this way, but I dont drive. If there is nothing I can do, how soon after catching the disease will it be fatal?
how long will it take till the whole world gets it?
Could cross-infection be occurring on flights? How are the aeroplanes being decontaminated after flying in from Mexico? How long can the virus survive on surfaces?
Should we keep the antivrus back for a worse one than this?
can very young babies be treated with tamiflu?
Why are people from Mexico being returned through large airports (eg. Gatwick) – Won’t this put all other travellers and workers at Gatwick airport at risk? Can’t they be sent to a few military airports instead? (eg. Northolt). Or to other smaller less used airports?
Laura
If the flu starts to evolve, what could we expect to happen?
Thankyou
Why dont you stop all travel ? its much simpler , all travel should be restricted . coming in and out of britain. soo the flu does not spread even more. And also. can you get the flu from someone who hasnt actually carried it. My grandparents were on a cruise last week and could they have possibly brought it back, but not been infectedd as some of my family is coincidentaly showing some sypmtoms of this flu.???
If the govt doesn’t think face masks are very effective, why did it announce today that ONLY frontline NHS staff will be issued with them???
Nick Lillitos, Belvedere, Kent
I am due to travel to New York on Friday morning, is it safe to do so? and what will happen when I am there if a pandemic is declared?
I’m over 6 months pregnant and really worried about this, if someone pregnant did get this flu, is there any medicine suitable that doesn’t harm the baby?
I’m curious as there is on going concern that the virus may mutate and become more virulent, does the use of anti virals promote the possibility of such mutation?
pandemic is an anagram of med panic.
can you please stick to good old-fashioned words like outbreak.
Is the vaccine distributed each winter to older people in any way effective against the current virus
If swineflu figures reach sufficient numbers where demand exceeds supply should the government then attempt to ensure that tamiflu will only be supplied according to medical need, for example by banning private scipts? As an infection control practitioner I am concerned that in the past in the USA flu vaccines have run out for those in medical need because Richer individuals have been able to queue jump their frailer but poorer compatriots.
It would be helpful to know if the jab the over 60s get for seasonal flu is useless for this new strain or has any effect in mitigating its symptoms. As far as I know the most likely strain is guessed and injected against.
In the film ‘Quarantine’ where people were held in a house due to an infection, they were left for dead. I’m wondering, if the Swine Flu does break out into a pandemic, and the government ca not cope, what will happen to us? Will we be left for dead or will they help us. I am starting to become really worried as it is scary what will happen but i’m a pestimistic.
If you have been to mexico recently or have had close contact with anyone who has been, and, especally if you have the symtoms, ring your gp and explain your situation in detail. if they poo-poo your caution, then push your argument. it’s better to be safe than sorry.
fern, aged 12
Many people in the UK will have been given a routine annual flu jab. I had my last one in November 2008. Would this have contained TAMIFLU or any other agent which will help in this case. I have heard no advice from any government health officer or other body on this point. If this does help then many fears would be allayed,
Interesting term used by chief medical officer “disease control” where the only disease avoidance suggestions are sneezing into a handkerchief and such like.
Curious to know at what level of infection “disease control” policy remains acceptable over a more proactive policy
Dear John
There are some evidence from the scientific literature that taking selenium/vitamins supplements could have some protective effects against influenza-type viruses. Would it be the case for this particular form of flu virus and if yes would it be good to recommend the general population to take such supplements in the current situation.
Many thanks
Best wishes
Catherine
further to my question re anti virals promoting mutation of current swine flu have found medical articles on web stating this is not only possible but sheds doubt as to their use…It may be counter productive!
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/134700.php
My daughter is 11 months old and has congenital heart disease. what should i be doing?
I work at the airport as a check-in agent, I am obviously in regular contact with passengers, I was wondering if any precaution should be taken such as wearing a mask or using anti-bacteria gel? Also if employers should inform staff and put in place any scheme to protect their employees?
Will the planes br forced to change the air more often on the planes. Is obvious that air travel has spread this all over the world, everyone returning from mexico should be quantenned for the incubation period this would have stopped the spread
What is the mortality rate from swine flu?
Is anyone naturally immune to this virus? Or do some people have more or less natural defence against it?
Is there any evidence that stupidity is contagious as there area hellava lot of dumb questions on this list
Can air circulation systems on aeroplanes spread airborne germs among passangers?
As a pregnant mother of a 22month old daughter could you please let me know whether we both would be able to take the medication used to treat swine flu should we contract it?
Everybody knows that ordinary paper masks are useless but surgical masks are not, so why is the Government restricting the availability of these to frontline medical staff when they could dramatically cut rates of transmission in the general population?
Also, ordinary H1N1 variants are already resistant to Tamiflu. When swine flu recombines genetically with its cousins, Tamiflu will likely be useless. Is there a “Plan B” with vaccines not likely to be available until November? Wouldn’t it be more rational to hope one is infected now with the milder strain to gain some immunity before any possibility of being unprotected in the face of more virulent strains down the line.
We really mustn’t be drip fed information. We need all the facts now.
Helped some foreign tourists with their luggage and directed them to the Coach Station on Mon or Tue last week. They were on their way home after being on holiday in Mexico. Got concerned this Monday when I started getting cold/flu symptoms. As the symptoms persisted and got worse I rang St. Thomas’s Hospital for advice and was told by a doctor in accident and emergency to rest and take some Paracetamol or Lemsip. Made me feel a bit stupid for being concerned.
Please could you tell us what anti-viral drugs are available for very young children and newborns and pregnant women?
Do I have a large chance of getting infected by the swine flu
This is from the WHO faq’s on tami flu (oseltamivir) resistance in the very strain of flu now putting us all on alert thought you might find it news worthy???
Yes, the elevated prevalence of oseltamivir resistance in circulating H1N1 viruses in multiple countries is new. Resistance to oseltamivir in influenza viruses circulating in the community has been found before but at much lower levels. Past surveillance studies have found rates typically ranging from 0% to <0.5%. The highest rate of oseltamivir resistance that had been reported previously for surveillance of community isolates was in Japan during 2005-06 when 2.2 % of 178 H1N1 isolates were found to be resistant. During the last winter season (2006-7), no resistant H1N1 variants were detected in isolates from Japan or Europe, and less than 1% of U.S. H1N1 isolates showed oseltamivir resistance.
However, oseltamivir resistance is well-documented to emerge in persons being treated with the drug. In clinical studies, H1N1 viruses with this particular mutation have been detected in up to 16% of H1N1-infected children treated with oseltamivir. Typically, the resistant strains have emerged 3 to 6 days after treatment was begun but were not detected a few days later. However, past studies found little evidence of spread of resistant H1N1 virus to contacts or circulation within the community. The oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 viruses observed this year are different in that they are able to transmit from person to person.
Is it safe to take Tamiflu during pregnancy?
Hi
I came back from Cancun on the 14th of April. When I arrived home I came down with a cold which lasted for around 5 days, however I have been fine ever since. I wondered if it woul be worth getting tested ?
In these circumstances my first instinct is to blame the media for the hysteria that is surrounding swine flu. But having looked in to it I am now convinced that blame should be levied firmly at the WHO.
There are question marks over what has happened in Mexico. It’s an H1 N1 virus which I believe means that people have a very high immunity. People who are testing positive for it are describing minor, almost cold like symptoms. They continue to raise the threat alert based purely on how contagious not on how dangerous it is.
There was a pandemic in the sixties that had such minor symptoms it almost went unnoticed. We now have states of emergency being declared across the world, pigs slaughtered because its called swine flu and the NHS wasting money on face masks that don‘t work.. Their argument is that it is better to be safe than sorry regardless of how much credibility they loose.
There will be a serious pandemic at some point and people are going to ignore the warnings because they have heard it all before. My own opinion is that the WHO want to test their own procedures and they are using the current out break to do it. If that turns out to be what is happening I hope that heads roll.
What ever happens, we shoud stop frightening the children. Can’t this be reported in newspapers and after the watershed? Any little kid hearing that they have the flu is going to be terrified that he or she will die. Let the parents of the children worry, not the children.
Furthermore, it is not worth getting drawn into hysteria, or to lose objectivity. Despite all of the seriousness and insecurity surroundig this virus, it dawned on me that if we had a mutation of swine flu and avian flu that we could have flying-pig flu.
My son goes to the Crowley school district should I take him out of school or be concerned? Is Crowely considered a FWISD
Your chances of dying from it, even if you get it are tiny. In 1918 and 1919 out of a population of more than 400,000 in Manchester there were about 3,000 deaths. With much better healthcare and living and environmental conditions it would be nothing like that amount now.
So let’s keep everything in proportion.
It seems to me that the rapid move from news item to mass hysteria and panic is in danger of becoming a normal process. Am I right in understanding that, as yet, there are only a handful of deaths attributable to this flu rather than resulting from something else?
I already hear many people saying that this is all hype and distraction. The danger seems to me that, by crying wolf every time some such case crops up, we will be too blase in the event that a genuine threat to millions of lives arises.
Is the WHO over-reacting way ahead of seeing complete evidence on the basis that it is better to be over panicky than risk the remote possibility that this will prove another big pandemic and thus lose their jobs?
Liam Donaldson said last night on your programme that face masks were of little or no benefit in preventing transfer of swine flu.
Why then is the government purchasing millions of masks for use by NHS workers ??
a few questions
1 – If paper face masks are ineffective then why do doctors and nurses always wear them?
2 – In 1918, the N1H1 virus came in 2 waves. The first was contageous and non lethal, the second wave, 6 months later was deadly. If this happens again, and you have the milder version will you be immune to the second wave?
3 – how quickly are people dying after they get symptoms? If you are dead within 24 hours like the 1918 pandemic how effective will Tamiflu be?
I think the government and WHO are handling it just right. Giving out facts without making people panic. But if you read and listen carefully they are saying they expect a deadly second wave in the autumn.
Maybe the deaths in Mexico are the second wave. I read they have had high levels of unseasonal flu for months.
I dont think it’s cause for panic but I do think it’s worth thinking ahead and being prepared.
I can’t help but feel that there is a degree of cynicism going on when the WHO hint at more deaths in the Autumn. They know it will be the flu season and there is always an increase in mortality.
Also I have never been treated by a doctor / nurse who was wearing a face mask. As far as I know only surgeons do. And I have been told that is to prevent the patient getting infected.
I’m sorry to tell you that you are all infected
with crazy disease,there is no cure for crazy disease but symptoms show as mass hysteria hallucinations and general panic about anything especially as soon as they hit the news,best defense suicide
This is rubbish. You keep claiming on your bulletins that you have posted answers from expert to viewers’ questions on this website. But you haven’t.
I see a long list of questions on this blog and a very short list of questions that were put to Sir Liam Donaldson last night on another page, but not a single answer.
It is complete misrepresentation on your part.
Sorry for any confusion. You can see Sir Liam Donaldson answering viewers’ questions on last night’s show in the video on this swine flu questions page.
Owing to the tremendous reader response last night, we put a large number of additional questions to other health experts. Their written responses have just been published on this page: Swine flu – more questions answered.
As I have not read through all the comments yet, I would like to know if our animals (Dogs/Cats) can get the swine flu, and if so what should we do for them? Is there a vaccine for them?
How do we know that swine flu hasn’t already been here for 3 weeks given that it has been in Mexico for over a month at least?
I have mild flu symptoms for 4 days sweating runny nose temperature aches etc and my daughter who is 18 months has a cough. What should we do? In my job i meets lots of people from all over the world.
Also when people stop going to work how will we people get diasnosed NHS Direct lines are overloaded already, let alone get the drugs distributed etc?!
I have just spent the day watching the swine flu story with a mix of morbid curiosity and disbelief. We know that flu is dangerous and it leads to the death of thousands of people every year. This tends to be people who are already ill. It goes without saying that people who are at greater risk should be given greater protection such as inculcations and ant-viral drugs. Most people who catch the flu will be sick for a few days, go on to make a full recovery and develop an immunity to it.
The argument I have just heard is that we have more people in society who are elderly and / or suffering from chronic medical conditions who would be at great risk if there was an epidemic. As I stated I think everything should be done to protect these people. It seems to me that the current policy is to stockpile as many anti-viral drugs as possible, then at the beginning of an epidemic to dose as many people as possible so they don’t spread the virus around. Even I know that not only is that going to be expensive and ineffective but it is also going to be extremely dangerous. If you start to hand anti-viral drugs out to the general population the virus will develop an immunity to them. Or worse still, it will mutate into something really nasty and it WILL be like a Hollywood movie.
One other thing. People keep using the 1918 flu as a president for what might happen. The reason that flu was so devastating was not because the virus was a particularly nasty one or because there weren’t the medical facilities that there are today, it was because people were in such a weakened state having just come threw the 1st World War.
Sorry need to clarify some things. It will teach me not to proof read things before posting them.
I meant not JUST because the virus was a particularly nasty one
When I said I said it was because they were in such a weakened state because of the 1st world war I meant the men and women coming back from it. There was massive social up hevel. One of the most interesting things about the 1918 flu was that the highest mortality rate was with the young and old, but then it switched to the adult population and then switched back again. I don’t mean undermine the importance of that outbreak but you can’t just ignore the environmental factors.
Over sensationalised load of rubbish! I bet more people die every day from infected toes than swine flu deaths combined. Absolutely nothing to worry about.
My mum just returned from Mexico and New York last week and for the last four days I’ve had a slight sore throat for two days, a slightly raised temperature, a bit of a blocked nose, a slight runny nose and just today, have been coughing and sneezing a tiny bit. Is is possible that I’m fighting the virus, or rather it is an extremely mild version?
I have a question: What is the health services going to do when and if this Swine Flu re-emerges in the Fall and Winter.
I am a 51 yr old lady who is registered disabled bcoz of several conditions like deg slipped disc, arthritis, under active thyroids, M E Barratts Esophegus and more..My immune system is extremely low as, since end of Jan I have had problems with kidney stones.(1 removed by op) and awaiting lithotripsy on 29th.. I developed “flu type” symptoms over the weekend i.e. constant vomiting, sneezing, shortness of breath, pain in all joints etc. As they got worse I called nhs who told me if symptoms got worse to dial 999.(I also done an nhs test online for swine flu which said to call 999) The paramedics came out and told me my chest was clear (my blood pressure was well above average) and the symptoms they felt were related to the kidney stone.I am not the type of person to even call the doctor unless I am exceptionally bad! The ambulance crew said to me it was not worth taking me to a & e as there would be a 6 hour wait. They told me to contact my g p as soon as possible. Unable to drive as feel so weak so awaiting g p home visit. My concern is are the turning people away becoz the hospitals are overflowing??!! Its exceptionally bad as I also informed them there was a case of swine flu in one of the other offices in the same bulding where i work
is that true that the symptoms of swine flue are seen after 1 day you are infected?
if yes then the other person might got infected without knowing.