Find out about Swine Flu influenza and where to get the latest updates.
Swine Flu Pandemic Outbreak
Swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), has diminished in the UK. However, it remains important that you know how to protect yourself, your family and others.
How You Can Protect Yourself
Find out how you can help protect yourself and others from swine flu:
Your GP will be able to advise you on vaccination against swine flu, or find out more about who should have the vaccine on the NHS website, using the link from this page.
What to Do if You Feel Unwell
Find out what to do if you feel unwell and think you may have swine flu:
With the number of swine flu cases falling, the National Pandemic Flu Service telephone line and assessment website has now closed.
If you think you have swine flu symptoms, you should stay at home and phone your GP, who will be able to assess you and authorise antivirals if you need them. If your GP has prescribed antivirals, you can search on the NHS website to find a local collection point.
News Feed and Latest Updates
For the latest news and updates, you can either use our Latest Swine Flu News Feed from Directgov, or select our links for:
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general advice for the public, on the NHS, Directgov and Health Protection Agency websites
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travel advice for people going abroad, on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website
You can also call 0800 1 513 513 to hear the latest information on swine flu. There is further advice for businesses in this section.
About Swine Flu
Swine flu is the common name that has been given to a new strain of human influenza (H1N1). It is called swine flu because it is thought to have originated in pigs, but this is not known for certain.
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. Outbreaks of swine influenza happen regularly in pigs. People do not normally get swine influenza, though infections do sometimes happen. In the past, most human cases of swine influenza have been in people who were in close contact with pigs, such as farmers.
However, in the current outbreak the virus has been spread by person-to-person contact. Human infection with swine flu (H1N1) viruses has been confirmed in Mexico, the US, Canada, the UK, and many other countries.
The virus was first identified in Mexico in April 2009 and has since become a pandemic, which means it has spread around the globe. It has spread quickly because it is a new type of influenza virus that few, if any, people have full resistance to.
For more information go to Swine Flu Questions and Answers on the NHS website.
You are at: www.eastbourne.gov.uk/swineflu
