‘Flu friends’ scheme for quarantined (From This Is Wiltshire)

‘Flu friends’ scheme for quarantined

10:10am Saturday 4th July 2009

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SWINDON Primary Care Trust has introduced ‘flu friends’ to help those in quarantine after catching swine flu.

Three Swindon cases of the virus were confirmed yesterday – one day after the Adver’s story on young father Luke Stokes, the first confirmed case in the town.

Luke, 25, from Pioneer Road in Oakhurst, north Swindon, fell ill on June 19, two days into a holiday in Cancun, Mexico.

The father-of-three is set to leave his home for the first time in a week today after spending the last seven days in quarantine while taking the Tamiflu antiviral drug.

He said: “It’ll be nice to get out of the house again.

“It’s not very nice being on your own in quarantine, so I’m glad it’s almost over.”

Swindon PCT launched the ‘flu friends’ scheme last night as they confirmed the two further cases.

The scheme asks people to nominate a friend or relative who can keep them in supplies while they are effectively quarantined at home.

A PCT spokeswoman said: “NHS Swindon can confirm that there are three laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu in Swindon.

“Flu friends are neighbours, friends or relatives who can help you if you get ill.

“For example, they could collect medicines, food and other supplies for you, so that you don’t have to leave home if you are ill.

“This is to help prevent the spread of flu and is explained in a leaflet that was sent to all households in Britain.”

The PCT spokeswoman said she was unable to give regular updates on testing for the virus as numbers were changing all the time.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham has warned that swine flu cases could rise to over 100,000 a day by the end of August.

He stressed the figure was only a projection but said scientists expected to see “rapid rises” in the number hit by the virus.

Mr Burnham confirmed there were 7,447 confirmed cases of swine flu in the UK.

People who feel unwell and who are concerned that they may have swine flu can check their symptoms on the NHS Choices online symptom checker at www.nhs.uk/news The Swine Flu Information Line is 0800 1 513 513.

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