Pandemic Flu: the facts

As with 'ordinary' flu, pandemic flu is likely to develop suddenly and be severe. Symptoms usually include fever, chills, headaches and aching muscles. A cough, sore throat or conjunctivitis may develop at the same time.

What can I do?

You can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading influenza during a pandemic by:

• maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face, or to other people.
• covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible.
• disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully — bag and bin them.
• cleaning hard surfaces (eg kitchen worktops, door handles) frequently, using a normal cleaning product.

Is there a vaccine to protect against pandemic flu?

At the time of going to press, there is no vaccine to protect against pandemic flu. Such a vaccine cannot be made until the new virus has been identified. Before a pandemic starts it is difficult to predict what strain will cause it and even then, predictions may prove wrong. Also the new virus may change enough that a pre-prepared vaccine becomes ineffective.

'Ordinary' flu vaccines will not protect against pandemic flu.

Medicines called antivirals can be used to treat pandemic flu, but their effectiveness will not be known until the pandemic virus is circulating.

If you do catch flu:

• Go to bed and rest.
• If you are a member of a College, inform the Porters, who will advise key personnel.
• Take medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the symptoms (following the instructions with the medicines).
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Call NHS Direct or your doctor's surgery if your condition suddenly becomes much worse.

These measures are for your own health and to avoid spreading the illness to others.

More information will be available at the time of a pandemic through leaflets, websites and the media. Such information will tell you how you can protect yourself and others and what to do if you think you are infected. Treatment will be recommended for some people but information will be given at the time.