Swine Flu

[Abbie]

Yeah thats what iim confused about

[Abigail]

Doctors aren't testing for Swine flu now, it's just a telephone diagnosis. There simply isn't the man power, labs or funds to test everyone who thinks they have it.

[Meh]

You can see the list of people affected here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8155464.stm

Patients who have had drug treatment for asthma

I'm ****ed.

[Abigail]

What does heart disease cover? Is it any heart problem?

[Abbie]

So on the phone they could tell you, you have it but you might not actaully have it

[Abigail]

They'll ask you your symptoms, take a history, ask if you've been in contact with other confirmed cases or live in a high risk area then decide if you've just got a cold or swine flu.

[Meh]

It's like the lottery. You're better off tossing a coin

[Perdita]

If there is no medicine for the 'ordinary' flu,other than paracetamol and/or lemsip etc, why is tamiflu supposed to help with swine flu?

[Abigail]

Tamiflu and Relenza are antvirals so in theory they could treat normal winter flu. However, like all antibiotics, overuse reduces efficiency and increases resistance so they aren't commonly used except in extreme cases.

Not everybody has been getting Tamiflu. Relenza is only going to be used when the virus mutates and becomes resistant to Tamiflu.

[di marco]

On the radio it just said Kent.

yeh thats what it said on the radio here but my dad said it was where i live in kent so i dunno. im sure itll be in the local paper next week if hes right