HEALTH chiefs today urged anyone in York or North Yorkshire who fears they have Mexican flu not to visit their doctor.

Patients were advised instead to call their GP’s surgery from home by phone, to avoid coming into contact with the wider public.

Dr Phil Kirby, Associate Director of Public Health and lead clinician for health protection at NHS North Yorkshire and York, said that patients could still be given the necessary advice and treatment.

He said the trust had yesterday issued guidance to GPs, hospitals and health professionals across North Yorkshire and York to update and advise them on procedures for any people returning from countries affected by the swine flu, who were showing flu-like symptoms.

His comments came after Spain revealed yesterday that it had Europe’s first confirmed case of the illness and two cases have now been confirmed in Airdrie, Scotland. There were also 14 other cases to be investigated in the UK.

In Mexico, where people first fell ill, more than 100 people had died of the disease. No suspected cases had been reported in York and North Yorkshire by yesterday afternoon. But Dr Kirby said that if any cases of Mexican flu were identified in the area, antiviral drugs would be made available to the individual and anyone they were in close contact with, such as other members of their immediate household, in accordance with current national guidance.

He said: “We have robust pandemic flu plans which have been developed with our NHS partners and other public services and we will be ready to respond accordingly should the alert level be raised.”

Meanwhile, York Hospital chiefs have confirmed they have plans in place for an epidemic outbreak, which they said would be instigated if advised by the relevant agencies.

York travel agency Quartz Travel yesterday fielded calls from more than 30 worried customers, wondering whether they should press ahead with planned trips to America.

The firm’s boss, Paul Smith, said customers had been reassured it was still safe to travel. However, one had said he intended to cancel his trip if matters did not improve in the United States over the next few days. He said he had not yet received any calls from customers in America wanting to return home early.

The Health Protection Agency urged anyone who had visited infected parts of Mexico or America recently to monitor their health closely for seven days after their visit. “There is no need for you to isolate yourself from other people as long as you remain well,” said a spokesman.

He said in most cases, people would be well enough to remain at home, but if further investigations were needed, people would be advised on appropriate arrangements for them to be tested, which might include admission to hospital. He said it was important they avoided contact with other people as much as possible until the results of their tests were back.


The symptoms and the treatments

THE Health Protection Agency said symptoms of human swine influenza were similar to those of seasonal influenza – “usually a feverish illness accompanied by one or more of cough, sore throat, headache and muscle aches.”

It said for most people, the illness appeared to be mild and infection was treatable with the anti-viral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and zamanivir (Relenza).

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office urged visitors to Mexico to consult a doctor immediately if they showed signs of flu-like symptoms on their return.

A spokesman said cases had been reported in Mexico City, together with the states of Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi, Mexicali and Baja California.

“The Mexican Secretariat of Health has advised people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing people as a greeting, or using the subway.

“Maintaining a distance of at least six feet from other persons and frequent hand washing may decrease the risk of exposure.”