Swine flu

Protect yourself and others from the flu virus this winter

Most people who catch the flu virus will feel achy and feverish for a few days, but will quickly bounce back to full health. However, for a small group of people, catching the flu has been known to cause serious illness - and has on a small number of occasions proved fatal!

Who can get the flu?

Anyone can catch the flu at any age, even those who are young and normally fit and healthy. So, it is important that everyone plays their role in protecting themselves and each other from the flu virus.

Is swine flu back?

Swine flu never really disappeared after last years pandemic. Swine flu is one of the three most common types of flu circulating in Salford.

How can I protect myself?

Get your flu jab!

The flu jab contains protection against the three most common strains of flu, which this year includes H1N1 (swine flu). The vaccine does not contain the actual live virus and will not give you flu. Any vaccine may trigger a response from your immune system, but this should be no more than a mild fever or headache. The flu vaccine is rigorously tested on thousands of people and so far over 20,000 have been vaccinated in Salford with no-one suffering from any serious adverse effects.

It is particularly important that pregnant women and those with underlying chest, heart or kidney problems protect themselves with a flu jab. These people have the highest risk of developing complications if they do catch the flu.

Please note the vaccine may not protect you if you come into contact with someone who has the flu virus within 14 days of your jab.

How can I protect others?

It is common for some people to carry the flu virus without even experiencing symptoms. This means that it is possible to infect vulnerable patients, friends and family who may be at a higher risk of complications without even knowing it.

Basic hygiene procedures, such as regular hand-washing, regular hard-surface cleansing and following the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ guidance will also help to minimise the spread of infection around you.

Protect yourself, protect others - contact your GP to book an appointment for your flu jab!

Further information about flu is available from NHS Direct.

This page was last updated on 22 December 2010