UK on 'pandemic alert' level as swine flu spreads

THE World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert level to phase six after swine flu has continued to spread.

The move follows Nottingham being declared as a swine flu hotspot by the Department of Health this morning.

It means that there are now ongoing outbreaks of the disease in the community.

The UK will now work on treating those showing symptoms instead of trying to contain the disease.

This morning the city and parts of the county, including Broxtowe, Gedling, Hucknall and Rushcliffe, were declared hotspots - or 'areas of sustained transmission'.

The Department of Health designates an area as a hotspot based on the way the disease is spreading.

Earlier in the week health bosses called for Nottingham to be declared a hotspot and to be given the go-ahead to concentrate on treatment rather than testing for the disease.

Director of public health for NHS Nottingham City, Dr Chris Packham, and director of public health for NHS Notts County, Dr Chris Kenny, issued a joint statement, saying: "While containment has worked very well in its early stages, we've been clear all along that it was highly likely that we would be unable to prevent the spread of swine flu indefinitely.

"Due to the high number of cases we are seeing in these geographic locations, we are now moving to only treating patients with flu symptoms, rather than trying to reduce the spread of the virus by also giving antiviral medicines - Tamiflu - to patients' contacts."

"Patients diagnosed with having swine flu will be asked to nominate a 'Flu Friend, who can then collect the medicine from a support unit by taking along a form of identification for both themselves and the patient."

People who develop flu-like symptoms are reminded to go to the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk or call the Flu Information Line on 0800 1513 513. People can also call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

NHS Nottingham City and NHS Notts County is reminding people to 'catch it, bin it, kill it' by covering their mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and throwing the tissue away.

People should also wash their hands frequently with soap and water.