Swine flu

The first time i have heard of Swine flu was earlier this week because my clinical partner was telling me that the outbreak has reached UK. As time goes by i heard it more frequent from the news from the radio and stupidly i thought it was "Swan flu" as it's derived from Avian flu and Swan is associated with the birds. In fact, that was not the case, Swine flu is related to the pigs rather than the birds.

I only cleared my doubt about "Swan" flu until mum called me yesterday as she knew that Swine flu has crossed over the Atlantic Ocean and came to UK, she confused me with the term "猪流感” which literally means Pig flu as Swine flu was transmissible by pigs. Finally after Google it from the internet, i found out that i have mistaken Swine flue as Swan flu. My mum was worried as it can cause death by just the flu itself. While blogging about this topic, BBC news has released an update that there are now 11comfirmed cases in UK and one NHS clerical worker has infected.

Everyone gets very worried, not only the public but also the NHS staffs. The hospitals are more aware and alert and and having meetings and discussions on how to manage this outbreak (personally i think it's stil too early to say as an outbreak, and certainly not a pandemic yet but it looks like it's going towards this trend.) And, we as the medical students have asked to attend a talk about the trust policy and management of this outbreak 2hours ago. Our hospital has decided to split Preston, which's taking the flu-admitted patients and Chorley, taking the non-flu patients. And in Preston, 4units are selected to accomodate the patients, which are the respiratory ward, 2 side rooms in Paeds ward, the Primary Care Trust, and also A&E. The pateints would be admitted to the isolated room as to prevent infection but the dilemma is you want to save them at the same time we are restrciting the patients as they are contagious.

Patients are not allowed to get out of the room unless they are going for urgent investigations. Even if they need to go out and use the lift, make sure the lift is empty. Visitors are not allowed to visit the patients at the moment to prevent the spread. If you find yourself having flu, the advice is stay at home and ring the GP to come and visit you instead of you going out to the hospital, approaching the public and spread the disease.

The infection control team has came out with the rules of prevent spreading. We were advised to put on the PPE-personal protective equipment and the sequence of putting on and removing are important. Put on the apron --> mask-->gloves. Remove apron-->gloves-->mask. remove the mask last as you dont use the gloves to touch it and contaminated to gloves and further contaminate the apron/ your own clothes after that. But do not forget to wash hands and alcohol gel is effective against the infection. The normal mask is only useful for 2hours, and need to be changed every 2hours. FPP3 mask can last longer for 4hr and our hospital is going to order extra as a mode of prevention. Next, we were recommended to bring our clothes and change while working in the hospital so that we dont bring our dirty/contaminated clothes back home and infect other people at home. We were told to check the updates from Health Protection Agency on the infection control.

The whole approach will be different when it comes to a pandemic. At the moment they would swab all the patients that come in with flu-like symptoms. But when it comes to a pandemic, it's no point to swab the patients, just treat the patients immediately as per Swine flu management. By looking at the condition now, prevention is better than cure. And the group of population that the hospital is trying to protect are the repiratory compromised and children. Every unit that is involved is working on it and helping to prevent a pandemic from happening.

We shall pray and wish to condition does not turn worst. Remember, PPE, hand washing, and now might be the best time for us to stay at home and study for finals. Metta to everyone.