What is swine flu?
Swine flu is the common name for the infectious disease caused by the H1N1 virus; it tends to make a person ill for about one week; only in exceptional cases is hospital admission necessary. Although some deaths have occurred these are usually linked to other serious health issues.The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of ordinary influenza: sudden onset of fever (temperature of 38 degrees Centigrade or more), cough or shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, chills, aching muscles, tiredness, sneezing, runny nose and loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhoea
Yes because students and staff tend to come into close contact with one another during the day. Influenza mainly spreads from person to person through close contact. Coughing and sneezing within a metre or so of another person can expose you to infectious droplets.
Hands can become contaminated through touching contaminated surfaces e.g. door handles or other surfaces contaminated with the virus. If you then touch your mouth, eyes or nose before washing your hands you can catch the infection.
How can I protect myself against swine flu?
The best protection against swine flu is to follow NHS hygiene precautions, and in particular to wash your hands more regularly than you would generally.You are also advised to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue where possible, and clean hard surfaces (such as door handles, shared computer key boards) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
What should I do if I develop flu-like symptoms?
If you think you might have swine flu, you should seek advice from the National Pandemic Flu Service.Telephone: 0800 1 513 100
Do not go to your GP’s surgery unless you are advised by NHS Direct to do so.
Where can I get good information about swine flu?
The NHS website has good and useful information. This website can also help you find a GP or dentist.The UCL website will tell you what is happening at College www.ucl.ac.uk/swineflu