The World Health Organisation has announced (11 June 2009) the escalation of swine flu to phase 6, the pandemic phase. This means there is a human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one World Health Organisation region, with community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region. It does not necessarily mean the virus is causing more severe illness or more deaths and the situation in the UK has not altered, nor have local arrangements.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said to BBC News, “This will not fundamentally alter our UK arrangements.”
Advice remains the same: use good hand hygiene and when you sneeze Catch It! Bin It! Kill it! If you think you have swine flu you can go online to check your symptoms on the symptom checker on www.nhs.uk or call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513. If you have taken these steps and are still concerned call your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
www.nhs.uk is the designated government website for public facing information for health related information on swine flu. The important links are below.
For more information on swine flu, FAQs and leaflets please visit our swine flu page by clicking on the banner below.
