Dropping through your door: Public Information Leaflet about Swine Flu

1 May 2009

Every household in Oxfordshire and the rest of the UK will be receiving a leaflet next week containing important information about swine flu. The leaflet will have up to date information about:

  • what swine flu is and how it can spread,
  • what preparations the UK governments have made,
  • what people can do to protect themselves and others,
  • what people should do if swine flu becomes more widespread,
  • what to do if you develop symptoms, and
  • how you can keep up to date with the latest information about swine flu

The leaflet, published by the Department of Health, contains key contact numbers and website details for help and advice on swine flu.

Jonathan McWilliam, Director of Public Health for NHS Oxfordshire said: “The leaflet reinforces our advice to people in Oxfordshire urging anyone who has returned from Mexico or the US, with flu like symptoms to stay at home, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or contact your local GP and not to go to any of the emergency departments, GP practices, minor injuries or first aid units.”

The leaflet also gives advice on simple infection control measures to reduce the spread of flu by covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, catching your germs and disposing of the tissue as soon as possible into a bin and washing your hands as soon as you can to kill any germs present. These are all important actions that can help prevent the spread of germs.


-  ENDS –

For more information contact Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust’s media office on tel: 01865 334640

Notes for editors:

  • Health organisations in Oxfordshire have plans in place to deal with a pandemic, should it arise. We would like to reassure the public that the PCT continues to work in its preparedness phase of its flu pandemic plan, which covers our readiness to respond in an event of a flu pandemic. The plan considers local co-ordination, surveillance, and communications during a pandemic; how to limit spread; the response required from primary care, including our GPs, community staff, and community hospitals; our out-of-hours services and links with other NHS trusts and partner organisations. The plan is also supported by service operational plans.
  • Symptoms of swine influenza are similar to those of seasonal influenza, usually a feverish illness accompanied by one or more or more of cough, sore throat, headache and muscle aches. For most people this illness appears to be mild. Infection with this virus is treatable with the anti-viral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and zamanivir (Relenza®).
  • For further information contact:
    - NHS Choices www.nhs.uk
    - www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu
    - Flu Hotline - 0800 1513513
    - NHS Direct - 0845 4647 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
    - Health Protection Agency – www.hpa.org.uk
    - Department of Health leaflet – Important Information About Swine Flu.