Stop swine flu ruining your holiday plans

As the North West gears up for one of its busiest holiday periods over the August Bank Holiday, health bosses in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale are issuing advice to local people to stop swine flu from ruining their holiday plans.

Whether you are planning a recession-busting ‘staycation’ in Britain or jetting off for sunnier shores, there are simple steps you can take to make sure you have a trouble-free break.

Dr Sheila Will, Director of Public Health at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale said, “No one wants to become ill while on holiday but unfortunately it does happen.

“If you are due to go on holiday and suspect you have swine flu then you should stay at home to avoid spreading the virus”.

Dr Will repeated the message that people should not try and get anti-viral medication to take with them in case they become ill with swine flu.

“People contacting the National Pandemic Flu Service for anti-viral medication will only receive one unique reference number,” said Dr Will. “Medication could go to waste and you will not be able to get another dose if you need it at a future date.”

National advice includes:

Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/en/ for information specific to the country you are visiting or call their 24-hour advice line on 0845 850 2829.

If you are travelling to Europe, make sure you have your free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles you to any necessary medical treatment during a visit to another European Economic Area country. You can get an EHIC application form from the Post Office or by calling 0845 606 2030.

Check in advance so you know where you can get medical advice if you or your family feel unwell on holiday.

Take over-the-counter medication for flu with you, such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen. Remember that children should not take aspirin.

If you experience flu-like symptoms, keep away from public places to avoid spreading it. Then contact a health professional and tell them your symptoms.

If you become ill on your flight home, alert the cabin crew to your symptoms. There are procedures in place for dealing with passengers who become unwell on flights, and the airline will advise port health officials on the ground that a passenger requires a health assessment and may need treatment.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has confirmed that swine flu will be treated no differently from any other illness by travel insurers. People diagnosed with swine flu before they are due to travel abroad, and any immediate family members (spouse, parents and children, with some policies covering other relatives) due to travel with them, will be covered for the cost of holiday cancellation by their travel insurance. Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance; and should you need to claim on your insurance you must have the unique ID number issued by the National Pandemic Flu Service and an antiviral label stating your name and date of issue.

Anyone who thinks they may have contracted the swine flu virus can contact the National Pandemic Flu Service online at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu on call 0800 151 3513 for information or 0800 151 3100 for treatment.

In the Rochdale borough, the antiviral collection point is located at Nye Bevan House on Maclure Road in Rochdale. It is open Monday to Friday 10am-1pm and 3pm-7pm, and Saturday 10am to 2pm. It is not open on Sunday and please note that it will not be open on Bank Holiday Monday.

As the number of swine flu cases decreases, the message is that members of the public need to continue to use their own judgement and be vigilant for other illnesses that may start with flu-like symptoms.

If you are diagnosed as having swine flu but your condition suddenly deteriorates or fails to improve after a few days, telephone your GP for advice.

People with chronic lung, kidney or heart disease, under fives, over 65s and pregnant women should telephone their usual GP service as soon as they have symptoms. Parents with children under one year should call their GP if their child has symptoms as soon as possible.