Swine Flu (H1N1) Pandemic: Guidelines

Swine flu is a respiratory illness caused by a new strain of the Type A flu (H1N1) virus. It was confirmed in the UK in April 2009 and has spread around the world, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a global flu pandemic. Transmission of swine flu is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu, but flu pandemics can occur at any time of year and may come in a number of waves, several months apart.

Symptoms of swine flu

You may have swine flu if you have a high temperature (over 38° C / 100.4° F) AND have two of the following symptoms: unusual tiredness; headache; runny nose; sore throat; shortness of breath or cough; loss of appetite; aching muscles; diarrhoea or vomiting. Most cases in the UK have been mild and people have recovered fully after treatment. Only a small number have led to serious illness, usually where patients have had underlying health problems.

Further information

Guidance for staff

If you are absent from work and suspect you may have swine flu you should report your absence in the normal way and inform your institution immediately of the suspected reason for your absence. (Students should inform the relevant college authorities). Specific guidance has been produced for staff and for managers when dealing with staff absences associated with the H1N1 pandemic; this available on the Human Resources Division website. Once you are symptom-free, you may return to work or study. A self-assessment checklist which may assist both managers and staff in determining when they are fit to return to work is available:

• Self-assessment checklist

Members of the University are urged to be vigilant about minimising infection. Although the UK has moved to a treatment phase, it is important that people stop the virus from spreading - the key is to practise good respiratory and hand hygiene (see NHS and HPA websites for details).

Pandemic management

The University and the Colleges are currently operating as normal.

Swine Flu Database (for Managers, Departmental Administrators and Heads of Institutions)

All enquiries regarding the University's management of pandemic flu should be directed to the University's Office of Communications (01223 332300 (out of hours 07970 291007)).

Those who think they may have symptoms of swine flu will be asked to telephone their GP surgery for advice. If it is thought appropriate they will be given a 'Flu voucher' for antivirals, which will be dispensed from one of the Antiviral Collection Points (ACPs). The list of ACPs remaining open within Cambridge is as follows:

Numark Pharmacy
2 Adkins Corner
Perne Road
Cambridge
CB1 3RU
01223 517073

Boots The Chemists
Unit 3 Cambridge Retail Park
Newmarket Road
Cambridge
CB5 8WR
01223 357487

Lloyds Pharmacy
30 Trumpington Street
Cambridge
CB2 1QZ
01223 359449