Time for people with asthma to take swine flu seriously

Neil Churchill - Chief Executive

Tagged: swine flu, pandemic, Fergus Walsh

When it first appeared, swine flu generated a lot of anxiety. Then, as numbers remained low, complacency set in. Now, as swine flu is declared a pandemic and with news of the first fatality in Europe this week, there is a need for those of us with asthma to take this strain of flu seriously.

There is no need to panic, and all the advice suggests swine flu is no more dangerous than usual forms of seasonal flu. But let’s not forget that seasonal flu still kills thousands of mainly older people every winter.

What’s new this time is that swine flu does not appear to be affecting older people – those in their 60s and over seem to have some degree of immunity. But it is clear that swine flu does affect younger people with respiratory illness. This week’s first fatality was a 38 year-old mother of two from Scotland, who had underlying health problems.

This is what Fergus Walsh, BBC Medical Correspondent, has to say:

‘Throughout the world, swine flu does present a slightly higher risk to those with existing respiratory illness, asthma, cardiovascular disease and obesity. It's worth remembering that seasonal flu kills several thousand people in the UK each winter. The difference with H1N1 swine flu is that the virus is almost exclusively targeting people under 65.

‘It is likely that cases in the northern hemisphere may tail off in the summer months, with a much bigger outbreak in the autumn. The virus can't be stopped altogether, but everyone can help to slow its spread by observing simple hygiene measures, and by staying home if they get the virus.’

The important point here is that we can act to protect ourselves. Firstly, when a vaccine is available, people with asthma should make sure they get it. Traditionally, quite low percentages of people with asthma get their seasonal flu vaccine, despite advice to do so. In the meantime, we need to follow government advice on preventing infection and remember to use our inhalers as prescribed.

There is no need to panic but there is a need for action.

Download or order the leaflet issued by the government at the Directgov website.

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Heather

21 July 09
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I have had swine flu for the last 6 days - it effected my asthma and for the first time in over 10 years I found myself back on steroids and having frequent attacks every day - very scary. Please take it seriously and stock up on reliever meds as it comes on quickly and leaves you feeling very ill. Although the flu has almost gone my asthma is all over the place now, I am shocked at how vunerable it has made me feel!

Tracee

13 July 09
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I'm currently VERY concerned. I suffer from asthma and have recently been in close contact with my sister (who is also an asthma sufferer). My sister is a reception school teacher and one of her pupils has been diagnosed with swine flu - the pupils parents were unaware and therefore did not keep this child away from school. My sister is now complaining of a sore throat. I'm concerned for both of us. People are dying of this virus. I have had flu before and, although very nasty, i didn't suffer too badly from my asthma with it. However no-one knows what effects this H1N1 Swine flu may have. I'm following the government advice to the letter but others are not (even my husband laughs off the warnings as 'over reacting') Does anyone have any further help or advice??

fionaoneill07

26 June 09
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I agree totally with Jeannie. I am a health professional and spend three days a week in two schools, the remainder of my time in health centre clinics. I am also pregnant, adding risk. I have discussed with my GP, midwife and Occupational Health advisors and emailed the HSE and HPA. No one has offered any specific advice, or responded to my specific question regarding at what point I should consider quarantining myself e.g. if there were cases rapidly spreading in my local community. Pregnant friends have had much clearer advice related to chicken pox and parvovirus. All advice simply says the risk is higher and to get the vaccine if and when it becomes available. My asthma has a tendency to be quite brittle in response to viral respiratory infections so my concern is that "watchful waiting" may prove fatal. I feel that there has been minimal response to my concerns and virtually no relevant public health information of a practical nature for those of us in high-risk or multiple high-risk categories. I am beginning to expect that there will be a limited response to these concerns until people start to die in significant numbers. That may be too late for some of us in high risk groups. In the meantime, most people I know scoff at 'swine flu', seeing it as something to take lightly and make fun of. I certainly don't see people following the 'catch it, bin it, kill it' advice. I am following this religiously, but in the end of the day, that will only protect others from my germs - who will protect me from the germs of those who see this as a small, inconsequential risk? Very unhappy with the management and response to this threat.

jeannie

25 June 09
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I am a school teacher and I am extremely concerned about swine flu because I am definately going to be highly exposed to this virus. I think people like myself have a lot to worry about and I am not reassured by any of the actions taken so far.There is no real consideration for individual circumstances, speak to your doctor is not good enough, doctors need to be told what to say where occupation puts someone at added risk.