Swine Flu must be kept in Perspective, Urges Health Director

Speaking on behalf of the two local Primary Care Trusts - NHS Stoke and NHS North Staffordshire - Dr Giri Rajaratnam, Director of Public Health for Stoke, said local people are listening very closely to messages from Department of Health and are being vigilant about swine flu symptoms among families, friends and work colleagues.

"Sadly, there have been deaths. But these have principally been within patient groups believed to have underlying health problems. In fact, every year there are deaths from complications of seasonal flu."

"We must remember that the current virus is not as bad as we originally planned for and the vast majority of people who do catch the virus are generally not very poorly and go on to make a full recovery in about a week.

"I think most people realise this and whilst we are experiencing a higher volume of calls to GPs, people are generally remaining calm and circumspect."

Dr Rajaratnam said it was particularly important for those people who are at most risk - those with long-term lung, kidney or heart disease, plus children under five, the over-65s and pregnant women - to check their symptoms with a GP as quickly as possible.

The key symptom of flu is a high temperature. If you then develop any two of the other symptoms - such as cough, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose or loss of appetite - you may have swine flu. Dr Rajaratnam added that it is important for everybody to have a thermometer at home and to make sure that they have identified a flu friend who can collect the antiviral medicines if needed.

If you are not in one of the at most risk groups, you will need to call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhs.uk to check your symptoms before talking to a GP.

Also, to take the pressure of GP surgeries, next week sees the start of the National Pandemic Flu Service in England. It is made up of a dedicated website and call centres and will be able to quickly tell you if you have swine flu. The Department of Health will provide details of this new service next week.