Flu strategy switched
Friday July 3rd, 2009
Britain dramatically switched its approach to swine flu yesterday - ceasing efforts to contain the epidemic.
Public health officials are to cease efforts to use laboratory testing to diagnose every case.
The public is being urged to keep patients with flu away from GP surgeries - and to telephone for help.
Doctors will be expected to decide over the phone whether antiviral drugs are needed.
Yesterday the Health Protection Agency reported some 7,447 confirmed cases of swine flu in Britain - but announced it would no longer be releasing daily figures or relying on laboratory testing.
The HPA said this approach had already been adopted in the worst-affected countries, including the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Mexico.
A spokesman said: "Antivirals used in the treatment of flu are not a 'cure'. They reduce the virus spreading in the body, help the patient to recover more quickly and reduce the risk of complications. They also reduce shedding of the virus by infected people so that its spread may be delayed.
"However they do not offer longer term protection.
"Once the virus is widespread within the community, the value of antivirals in terms of slowing the spread of the disease or offering individual protection is greatly reduced. This is because people are likely to be repeatedly exposed to the disease and extensive use of prophylaxis (prevention) would no longer be appropriate as it would mean people having to take repeated courses of medicine.
"It is not possible to eliminate the virus using antivirals."
Meanwhile a study of public reactions to the flu epidemic confirms the absence of much panic.
A survey of about a thousand people found that few had changed their behaviour after the H1N1 virus reached Britain.
The HPA worked with King's College, London, on the study. Just 24 per cent of people reported feeling anxious about swine flu - and just two per cent were genuinely scared.
Researchers found that few had taken notice of public health warnings by increasing rates of hand-washing, disinfecting their house or making plans with a friend.
Researcher James Rubin reports in the BMJ on-line: "Our results largely endorse the current policy of providing the public with clear, consistent information, which focuses on the practical things that people can do to reduce their risk and which maintains trust by explicitly discussing the current level of knowledge, preparation, and resources available to tackle the outbreak.
"Tackling the perception that the outbreak has been over-hyped may be difficult but also worthwhile."
Tags: Australia | Flu & Viruses | North America | UK News | World Health
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