Top tips for preventing swine flu

KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN:  Wash them thoroughly and frequently – especially before eating or preparing food – and rinse under clean running water to remove any infected mucous.

DRY YOUR HANDS AFTER WASHING: Wet hands are more likely to pick up and spread germs.

KEEP HANDS AWAY FROM THE FACE: If someone sneezes and then opens a door, the next person to touch the handle will come into direct contact with the virus. So, do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth until you've washed your hands.

SNEEZE INTO A TISSUE- THEN BIN IT: Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and then dispose of the tissue carefully. Don't leave it hanging around or re-use it several times.

AVOID OVER-USE OF HAND GELS: Don't rush out and buy dozens of hand gels to use on the move. They're useful in situations where there are no washrooms. But if you have access to soap and water at the end of a journey, use that as it is just as effective.

KEEP SURFACES CLEAN: Proprietary sprays are fine, but a mild solution of washing-up liquid and water works equally well.

OPEN A WINDOW: Humidifiers and air purifiers may be effective, but they are still not fully tested against the swine flu virus. One of the most efficient ways to clear the air and dilute the virus is simply to open a window.

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF: The body's own immune system offers the best protection from illness. Eating a good and varied diet, drinking plenty of water and taking regular exercise are the best ways to stay healthy and avoid getting the disease in the first place. Plus, if you or your family do succumb to swine flu, being in good health will help everyone to shrug it off quickly and without complications.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1214447/Beat-bugs-swine-flu-bay-germ-busting-products.html#ixzz0RaJU84UD

With a second surge of swine flu on the way we reveal the most effective germ-busters

With experts predicting a second swine flu surge this autumn, we reveal the most effective ways to keep viruses at bay – and recommend the germ-busters every home should have

The cooler weather means more of us group together indoors and so are more likely to pass on viruses to one another

Swine flu cases may have been steadily decreasing over the summer – but experts are expecting a surge in new cases in the next few months.

The main reason is that cooler weather means more of us group together indoors and so are more likely to pass on viruses to one another.
Once released into the air via coughs and sneezes, some viruses can live for several hours on surfaces such as tables, doorknobs and desks, which is why keeping hands clean is so important.
Antibacterial washes and wipes will kill some viruses and are great for protecting surfaces against potential sources of tummy bugs.
According to Professor Wendy Barclay, chair of Influenza Virology at Imperial College London, there are some basic steps people can take to protect themselves from swine flu and other seasonal flu, coughs and colds.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1214447/Beat-bugs-swine-flu-bay-germ-busting-products.html#ixzz0RaJ3cpUm

China Swine Flu Cases Top 10,000

China's total number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 Swine Flu cases has reached 10,000, "with 1,118 new cases confirmed in the past 48 hours," according to the Ministry of Health.

The rapid spread of the flu outbreak is mostly happening within China's borders, with only eight of the new cases being "imported" into China while the rest had been contracted on the Chinese mainland.

The outbreak is now pan-national, with Chinese state media reporting that "all 31 provincial areas on the Chinese mainland have now reported H1N1 cases." The Chinese capital Beijing last week started inoculating "about 1.8 million residents aged 60 years and over as well as students at primary and middle schools."

 

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A second wave of swine flu could be on its way, scientists warned last night after the number of new cases rose for the first time since July.

The jump, from an estimated 3,000 to 5,000, comes a fortnight after children - key spreaders of the disease - returned to school.

There have been outbreaks at six schools in England, but health chiefs repeated that there are no plans to close schools as it would do little to contain the disease.

In another development, two sufferers are believed to have developed resistance to Tamiflu, the anti-viral drug which is the only line of defence to the disease before a vaccine is ready.

A woman walks through London with a surgical mask in an attempt to protect her from swine flu (file picture)

Disruption: A woman walks through London with a surgical mask in an attempt to protect her from swine flu (file picture). Scientists fear the deadly second wave of swine flu is on its way

Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson however said the two cases were not of significance as there was no evidence these resistant viruses had been transmitted from person to person.

Experts have been predicting a second wave of swine flu will hit in the winter months following a lull over the summer break, when children were not mixing as freely. Sir Liam said the figures 'begin to suggest swine flu is coming back'. And he admitted: 'We would naturally have hoped for a bit more breathing space before it started again.'


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There are 143 people in hospital in England, of whom 23 are in intensive care. The total of deaths linked to the virus stands at 67 in England and 79 across the UK.

Sir Liam has revised NHS forecasts, saying that between 3,000 and 19,000 will die from the virus - down from the 65,000 worst case scenario outlined in July.

The number of new cases have been falling since the peak of 110,000 a week reported in late July. Experts believe a second wave of the disease will be more deadly as it will coincide with winter, when flu is more virulent.

Sir Liam said more than 1.3million people had been assessed via the National Pandemic Flu Service for England, with 522,890 collections of anti-viral drugs.
Enlarge andy burnham and liam donaldson demonstrate how to sneeze

Health Secretary Andy Burnham, left, and Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson demonstrate how to sneeze, while reducing the risk of infecting others, during a visit to a North London school

The schools affected by outbreaks are two in South Yorkshire, one in Carlisle, one in the North East and two in London.

Sir Liam said there were no plans to close schools as the virus was circulating in the community, meaning such efforts would have little value.

Tests on GlaxoSmithKline's flu vaccine has shown that a good immune response can be achieved with just one dose rather than two, he said.

However, Sir Liam said the under-13s and over-65s may need two doses, although research was ongoing.

The Health Protection Agency said two samples from UK patients have been shown to have the genetic change associated with Tamiflu resistance. Both were from patients with compromised immune systems.

One has been proved to be resistant; the other is undergoing further tests to confirm resistance.

A spokeswoman for the HPA said there was no question that the resistance could have been caused by overuse of Tamiflu, which has been prescribed to hundreds of thousands of people with suspected cases of the disease.

'We have seen this in other countries where there hasn't been mass prescription of Tamiflu,' she said. 'The cases are sporadic, and there is no evidence of onward transmission. This is to be expected and is not a cause for concern.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1214236/Deadly-second-wave-swine-flu-way.html#ixzz0RaIGPSRN