HEALTH authorities covering Malvern and Ledbury are gearing up to deal with an outbreak of swine flu after a 41-year-old Redditch woman was confirmed as having the disease.
But travel agent Lee Harrison of Select World Travel in Church Street, Malvern, said: "We haven't had a single cancellation from a customer so far, and only two calls, from people who were worried about going to the States.
"The big tour operators are offering customers who were booked to go to Mexico alternative holidays." He said people planning to travel should stay in touch with their travel agent and keep an eye on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at fco.gov.uk.
Dr Akeem Ali, director of public health for Herefordshire, said: “The good news from Mexico and other affected areas is that given antivirals like Tamiflu early enough, the people who get this seem to be recovering.”
Dr Richard Harling, director of public health for Worcestershire, said: “We are concerned about the possibility of an influenza pandemic and we are making sure that our plans are in place.
“Symptoms of infection include fever, cough, runny nose, limb or joint pain and headache. There has been no transmission of the virus within the UK and the general population is not at risk at this stage. If a pandemic does develop we have comprehensive plans in place to respond to it.”
People who develop symptoms and who have returned from Mexico or the US within the last seven days should stay at home and contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647. They are asked not to go to their GP or to hospital.
Advice to the public is: avoid contact with other people as much as possible, cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible, dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully, maintain good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people, clean hard surfaces (eg door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
An information helpline has been set up at 0800 1513513.
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