The recent development with respect to swine flu suggests that “outbreak management phase” has given way to treatment phase as the government has announced that it cannot contain the virus any longer. This, however, does not mean that the virus has taken a more deadly form or there is any increased threat, but only that there has been a significant increase in the number of cases and the government has resorted to a different strategy.
The proposed phase would mean an end to the task of tracing people with flu and subsequent use of anti-virals to contain spread. However, anti-virals will still be available to people in need but on the discretion of health experts, which in turn would decide whether a particular case actually needs anti-virals. Further, there will be a periodical surveillance similar to the reporting for seasonal flu that is in place presently.
According to Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Health Secretary, the increase in number of swine flu cases across the UK was expected. She also said that in wake of the increased number of cases and the fact that there is possibility for community transmission, it is prudent to make a shift to the treatment phase from the current phase. It is also notable that Scotland was the first to witness swine flu in the UK. Click on Health and Safety News to keep up-to-date on the latest developments and for a complete guide to IOSH and NEBOSH training for all you need to know about the main concepts and law associated with Health and Safety.
The health secretary for England, Andy Burnham added that since the cases of swine flu were increasing at a rate of 100% every week, which would mean around 100, 000 cases each day by the end of August, the focus would now be on treatment of the flu instead of trying to contain the virus. He also pointed out that the government knew that it could not control the virus indefinitely and that there would be need for resorting to treatment of the flu at some point of time.
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on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 at 6:18 am and is filed under Great Information + Tips, News Parlor, World Of Health.
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