Swine Flu

[di marco]

i read in the paper that a 6yr old girl has died from it, near birmingham area i think. and on the news it said by august 100,000 people a day will be catching it!

[Chloe O'brien]

Rex Features
Big Brother 7 star Imogen Thomas has caught swine flu after returning from holiday.
The 2006 contestant, 26, was diagnosed with the virus after coming home from Marbella on Monday, reports the South Wales Post.
"It's awful," said the glamour model. "I feel drowsy and need to sleep. Swine flu isn't exactly a good souvenir to bring back from holiday."
She is now reportedly in quarantine in her London flat and has been prescribed antiviral medication Tamiflu by doctors.
Thomas, who has become a regular fixture in lads' magazines since leaving Big Brother, was famously involved in a sex tape scandal during her time on the show.

[Abigail]

My mum thought I had swine flu when I spoke to her on the phone this morning. I got the spiel about ringing the NHS help line "because she doesn't want it." She's 150miles down south

I'll be having the vaccine when it's available in September My body can't cope with anything more than a cold.

[di marco]

i heard theyre going to give the vaccine to 50% of the population, is that true?

[Abigail]

Vaccines will be given to those in high risk groups, as per usual flu vaccines. People with asthma, heart or lung problems, diabetes, weakened immune system and the elderly are in the high risk group. However, its thought the elderly will already be immune to the disease because it was around donkeys ago.

[di marco]

thats what i thought to start with too. but my mum said she heard on the news that 18 - 25yr olds were mostly likely to get it and 40 - 50yr olds (or some age around that) were most likely to die from it and the elderly were unlikely to get it, so i wasnt sure how they were gonna vaccinate people. though seeing as all the people who have died in britain so far have had other health problems im guessing it would go to those people first

[Abigail]

The vaccine has to go through clinical trials before its released to the general public. I'm not sure how they're going to do it. Vaccinate a person then quarantine them with people who already have the virus to see if it works?

[di marco]

The vaccine has to go through clinical trials before its released to the general public. I'm not sure how they're going to do it. Vaccinate a person then quarantine them with people who already have the virus to see if it works?

im not sure how theyre gonna do it either. im guessing the same way as they trial other drugs? i always thought these sort of trials were to make sure there were no major side effects and the like rather than to make sure it actually works

[Abigail]

In clinical trials there is always a phase where the drug is tested on patients to see if it works as it should.

[Chloe O'brien]

HARRY Potter actor Rupert Grint has been struck down with swine flu.

Grint, who plays Harry's pal Ron Weasley, was forced to take a break from filming the latest instalment about the young wizard when he was hit by the bug.
His publicist said today: "It has just been confirmed that Rupert Grint has taken a few days out of filming due to a mild bout of swine flu."
"He has now recovered and is looking forward to joining his fellow cast members at the junket and premieres this week and will then return to filming directly afterwards."
She said Grint's doctor had confirmed that Rupert had recovered and was no longer contagious or at risk of infecting others.
"Other scenes were shot in his absence which did not require his involvement and thus filming was not disrupted," she added.