Swine flu by numbers (From Bournemouth Echo)

All this stuff on swine flu has just mada alot of people scared and it has not been handled in a good way.

Maybe people could have the option of having a self test kit - rather than waiting in fear for 5-10 days not knowing if they might die etc.

The people with the plan need a better plan.

I'm asthmatic and have the seasonal flu jab every year as catching flu could be very serious for me. Unfortunately I have already had swine flu, and whilst it may be a mild illness for most people, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with other health problems! I would have had the vaccination if offered it... although it's too late for me now.

swine flu or just flu...think people are saying they have swine flu when in fact they have just the common flu...doctors would rather say its swine flu to protect themselves ..if they didnt tell a person it was swine flu then that person died they would be to blame. so lets just tell everyone with flu they have swine flu.

bex1984 wrote:
swine flu or just flu...think people are saying they have swine flu when in fact they have just the common flu...doctors would rather say its swine flu to protect themselves ..if they didnt tell a person it was swine flu then that person died they would be to blame. so lets just tell everyone with flu they have swine flu.

That's just not true Bex.
Rather the opposite. My surgery shrugged their shoulders and only said " it might be, might not be, hard to tell.." in an appathetic tone. Then they tell you it's up to you as to whether you treat it as swine flu!
I hesitated, leaving it for 4 days before ringing my surgery for clarification on diagnosis. The NHS line said I had it - they were right, but thanks to comments from people like you making the rest of us feel we are making a fuss over nothing I decided to see if it got any worse. Which it did. HUGELY. It was too late for me to take the anti-virals thanks to my hesitation. Now my child and I have so far endured 10 days of horrible ill health, far worse than any proper flu I have had before. I have underlying health problems including asthma, so has my son. It has been a worrying few days. We are pulling through but I would say to people, don't hesitate or rely on your surgery...if you get a high temperature and fever, ache badly, get dry eyes, dreadful tiredness and headaches that prevent you from standing up or getting out of bed consider taking the anti-virals NOW. By the time the vomiting, upset stomache ,shakes and visual/audio disturbances start its too late.

I bet we are not on any statistics.

It is definitely different to ordinary flu and I would say worse as it really goes for your weak points, so underlying health problems flare up badly.

There is some interesting data suggesting that keeping your vitamin D level optimal will prevent colds, flu and in particular H1N1 (swine Flu). The Canadians are taking the data very seriously and starting studies to see if Vitamin D can prevent Flu
Here are links to two interesting articles:

August 2009-Vitamin D3 deficiency and its role in influenza
http://archive.const
antcontact.com/fs026
/1102452079631/archi
ve/1102685428884.htm
l
Sept 2009-More on Vitamin D3 and influenza
http://archive.const
antcontact.com/fs026
/1102452079631/archi
ve/1102728693089.htm
l

If these links don’t work you can go to www.vitaminD3world.c
om and click on ‘In the news” to find the articles.