Swine flu is back in the UK

The potentially deadly swine flu is back in the UK, following reports that 2 people have been hospitalised after contracting the virus, confirmed yesterday by health officials.

Both patients have been diagnosed has having the H1N1 strain of influenza, and are now being closely monitored at Wishaw General Hospital in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The virus was first identified in Mexico back in April 2009, and was first named ‘Mexican flu’. Mexico had 100s of non-lethal cases of the virus prior to the outbreak being officially discovered, with the country in the midst of a “silent epidemic”.

However, it later became labelled as swine flu due to the fact that the virus strikingly bore similarities to already known influenza viruses that cause illness in pigs.

The virus subsequently spread between countries, causing pandemonium as it was a new type of flu virus that barely anyone was immune to. According to the World Health Organization, there were 18,500 lab-confirmed deaths from swine flu in 2009 alone, and anywhere between 10-200 million people infected. Of the total deaths, 350 people died in the UK during the initial pandemic.

The flu jab covers the virus – which is free of charge on the NHS to people 65 years of age or over, pregnant women, those with certain medical conditions, people living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility, anyone receiving a carer’s allowance, or the main carer for an elderly or disabled person who could be at further risk if the carer was to become ill and Healthcare workers with direct patient contact or a social care worker.

Children over the age of six months with a long-term health condition and those aged two, three and four plus children in school years one and two are also recommended as having the flu jab.

Health experts have commented that the apparent emergence of the virus was ‘not unusual’ because it never truly went away in the first place.

Leading flu expert, virologist Professor John Oxford, spoke to the MailOnline yesterday and said that the virus has been ‘moving around the community this year.”

“Every year there is three to four influenza viruses but there’s nothing unusual,” he said.
“I’m sure there would have been cases last year in the UK and around Europe. I’m a bit surprised that they have announced it.

“If you have had the flu jab then you wouldn’t expect to get it or the other types of flu.”

Professor Oxford said he predicts more cases of swine flu to emerge in the coming weeks as we enter the peak of the flu season, adding that the virus could be treated with Tamiflu (oseltamivir), and stressed how the most at-risk groups were children and people with underlying health conditions, if they have not been immunised.

The two cases in Scotland only came to prominence after someone had commented about being diagnosed with the virus on social media.

Dr Femi Oshin, consultant in public health medicine at NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Although there are low levels of influenza overall this winter, H1N1, also known as swine flu, is reported to be the main flu virus circulating in the community.

“It is, therefore, to be expected that we will see some cases of H1N1 in Lanarkshire at this time.
“The seasonal influenza vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against flu, including H1N1.
“The annual flu vaccine is available free to pregnant women as well as other eligible groups including people over 65, those who have certain health conditions, healthy children aged two, three and four plus children in school years one and two, and people who work in healthcare.”

Swine flu: The 24 people who died this winter may be only a small percent of the true number, admit experts

According to newspaper reports the 24 people who died this winter from swine flu could be a fraction of the true death toll, medical experts admitted yesterday. The known deaths so far include one pregnant woman and nine children. Last night it emerged that at least one of those killed by swine flu had been vaccinated against the virus.

Over the last seven days the swine flu death rate has risen by 60 per cent and doctors warn it will continue to rise over the next few weeks. In total 27 people have died from flu this winter, with 24 of these victims of swine flu, or H1N1. The others died from a different strain, known as influenza B.

But many victims die from complications such as a heart attack or pneumonia, so the virus is not recorded on their death certificate. Doctors defended the use of the vaccine, which they said was effective in between 70 and 80 per cent of cases – a relatively high success rate compared with other immunisations against flu.

For vulnerable patients at risk of Flu, NICE recommends prescribing Tamiflu for treatment.

At Risk Groups

1.                      patients over 65 years old
2.                      chronic respiratory disease (including asthma and COPD)
3.                      Chronic heart disease
4.                      Chronic renal disease
5.                      Diabetes mellitus
6.                      Immunosuppressed patients
7.                      Chronic neurological conditions
8.                      Chronic liver disease

During the 2009 H1N1A pandemic pregnant women and children under the age of 5 were identified as additional risk groups by the department of health.

Tamiflu is an oral NICE recommended antiviral medicine for treating at risk patients with flu symptoms within 48hrs when influenza is circulating in the community defined by Heath Protection Agency, or equivalent influenza surveillance, whether they are vaccinated or not.

Buy Tamiflu online from Medical Specialists online pharmacy to protect against influenza today.

References: NICE technology appraisal guidance 168, Amantadine, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir for the treatment of influenza.

Tamiflu protected against pneumonia in swine flu patients: researchers

Swine flu patients were protected from developing pneumonia by taking Tamiflu during the pandemic, Chinese research has found.

A study of 1,200 people admitted to hospital with swine flu found those who were treated with Tamiflu were around 80 per cent less likely to develop pneumonia.

It means that four people needed to be treated with the drug to prevent one case of pneumonia, the study published online in the British Medical Journal found.

Some critics have said the response to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic was excessive and that Tamiflu was ineffective.

The study, conducted by a team at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, also found that starting the course of Tamiflu, also known as oseltamivir within two days of symptoms reduced the length time patients were feverish and lessened the amount of virus they shed, so making them less infective to others.

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/swine-flu/8029951/Tamiflu-protected-against-pneumonia-in-swine-flu-patients-researchers.html

New killer swine flu virus could be on its way

An even more deadly version of Swine flu could be on its way this Christmas experts have warned yesterday.

Scientists fear the H1N1 virus may come back this winter in a “dangerous” and more potent form. And that could send the death toll soaring for the bug, which has killed more than 60 people in Scotland and around 18,000 worldwide.

Swine Flu medication

Leading bacteriologist Prof Hugh Pennington said that every global flu epidemic has returned in a deadlier form.

He said: “History shows that subsequent waves have been nastier and killed more people.

“In 1918-19, when 50million died of H1N1, the second wave was much more serious than the first.

“It is reasonable to expect swine flu to return this winter.”

The Aberdeen-based boffin added: “One possibility is we might get another virus which is a more lethal mutation.”

Next week the NHS will appeal to thousands of vulnerable Scots to get vaccinated against swine flu.

A spokesman said: “It’s expected that H1N1 will be the main flu virus circulating this winter. Most people will recover naturally within a week.

“But those with health conditions, including heart and lung problems, are at an increased risk of experiencing serious complications.

“These people, including children, are encouraged to receive vaccination from October 4.”

Last night Scottish Labour’s public health spokesman Dr Richard Simpson said: “It would not be surprising to see a return of swine flu.

“It’s very important that people in target groups get vaccinated.”