PUBLIC CONCERN about swine flu has increased sharply in recent weeks, with almost 4,000 people contacting the HSE swine flu information line since the start of the month.
The helpline (1800 941 100) received 3,941 cases between August 1st and lunchtime yesterday, compared with 6,353 for the month of July.
The freephone service has received 13,145 calls since it opened in May in response to public concern about the pandemic. It received 2,141 calls in that first month, but just 710 calls in June.
A HSE spokeswoman said the June figure may be low because the focus had switched to reported cases abroad and the level of media coverage fell here. She said the number of calls to the helpline was broadly in line with the increase in the number of cases around the country, with numbers increasing in the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Irish Medicines Board has received four adverse reaction reports associated with the use of Tamiflu during the swine flu pandemic. Tamiflu is the antiviral medication prescribed in many swine flu cases.
An Irish Medicines Board spokeswoman said the suspected adverse reactions reported were abdominal pain and nausea, agitation and insomnia and pruritus (itch) and rash.
“These suspected adverse reactions are consistent with the known safety profile of the active substance,” she said.
Tamiflu, which is manufactured by Roche, has vomiting and nausea listed as its main side-effects on its packaging.
In Britain, more than 400 reports of Tamiflu side-effects have been received since the start of the swine flu outbreak, according to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
Yesterday Roche expressed concern at the media focus on a study by the University of Oxford which found that Tamiflu and another antiviral Relenza were unlikely to prevent complications in children with swine flu and could cause side effects.
A Roche spokeswoman said the company was concerned that parents of children who had contracted the virus may be unduly worried should Tamiflu be prescribed.
She said regulatory authorities worldwide had reviewed the data from clinical trials and approved Tamiflu for use in children. “Significant data is available which shows the medicine to be effective and well tolerated when used for the treatment or prevention of influenza in children over one [year old],” she said.
On RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland yesterday, University of Oxford researcher Dr Matthew Thompson said children under five were more at risk of developing complications with swine flu but the benefits of an antiviral were “fairly small”.
“I think with patients with mild symptoms, I think most parents would be happy to follow the usual advice that GPs would give in managing normal coughs and colds in their child,” he said.
Dr Kevin Kelleher of the HSE said the Oxford study had not changed the HSE’s approach to the issue “at the moment”.
The findings would be reviewed by the Pandemic Influenza Expert Advisory Group which is advising the HSE and the Department of Health, he said.
“At the moment our advice that we’ve been putting out is that it is appropriate in circumstances when a GP or a doctor has a child who has, in their view, got symptoms of pandemic flu to, if appropriate, prescribe Tamiflu or an antiviral for that child.”
Meanwhile, an editorial in this week’s Church of Ireland Gazette has recommended that the exchange of peace handshake be suspended at church “for the time being”.
Church of Ireland bishops had earlier said it was possible to continue the sign of peace as long as proper hand hygiene was observed, but the editorial said proper hand hygiene could not be taken for granted.
The Catholic Communications Office director Martin Long said the Catholic bishops had discussed this issue at their June meeting and had agreed that each bishop would consider appropriate action at a local diocesan level, and would be guided by advice from the health authorities.He said dioceses such as Derry and Cork and Ross had already temporarily suspended the sign of peace as a precautionary measure.
Swine flu: symptoms and treatment
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of the H1N1 virus, better known as swine flu, are like those of regular seasonal flu. They include a fever that starts suddenly, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache and muscle aches. Some people have vomiting and diarrhoea.
What do you do if you think you have swine flu?
If you get sick with a flu-like illness, phone the HSE information line on freephone 1800-941100. This is available 24 hours a day, and has detailed advice on symptoms and how to care for yourself or someone else at home. Most people with flu are able to recover at home within a few days without needing antiviral medicine or medical care. If you have severe flu symptoms, or if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are aged under five or over 65, contact your GP by telephone. They will decide if you need testing or treatment.
What should you not do?
Don’t go to the doctor’s surgery or to a hospital emergency department, unless it is an emergency. If you go to the GP’s office, and you have the flu, you are likely to spread it to other people there.
How can you avoid spreading the flu?
Cover your nose and mouth with disposable tissues when sneezing, coughing, wiping and blowing your nose and dispose of used tissues.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, and especially after coughing and sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Clean hard surfaces such as door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product and try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Source: The Health Service Executive
