Swine Flu Information

University of Exeter	Handbook (Medical Imaging)	Questions/Comments	Department (Medical Imaging)

Swine Flu Pandemic Information for Radiography Students

Swine flu is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that usually infects pigs, with recent outbreaks in humans which are caused by a new version of the swine flu virus called influenza A/H1N1v.
The symptoms include: fever; lethargy; cough; sore throat; body aching; headache; loss of appetite. Occasionally these symptoms are accompanied by a runny nose, sneezing, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Swine flu takes 3-4 days for symptoms to appear following exposure.
Generally swine flu is a mild illness and most sufferers recover without the need for treatment. However, occasionally there may be complications and these may require treatment or hospitalisation in severe cases. These occur particularly in people with other underlying illnesses or weakened immune systems.

Transmission is via human to human transfer primarily through droplets from an infected persons' secretions (following coughing or sneezing) being inhaled by another person. Transmission can occur from touching surfaced that have the flu virus on them, then touching the mouth or nose.
To reduce transmission cover your mouth and nose when sneezing, dispose of tissues promptly (bag and bin), maintain good basic hygiene at all times. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water (especially after sneezing) to prevent the spread of the virus on your hands to your face or to other people. Maintain hand- washing / alcohol gel between patients and practice optimum infection control in the clinical setting. Clean hard surfaces (i.e. door handles, work surfaces) frequently using a standard cleaning agent.

If you think you have swine flu you should stay at home. At the University you can self-certificate for 7 days. If you are ill for longer than this, please contact your General Medical Practitioner (GP) who will be able to certificate you for an additional period away from your studies if this is necessary in their opinion. You will generally be safe to return to University or placement after 7 days from the start of symptoms (5 days if you have had Tamiflu). Prior to returning to University or placement your fever should have subsided and you should feel well again.
You must also call the Student Services office on 01392 264 171 to let them know you are ill and will be absent. During this phone call they will record your symptoms and if you leave an answer-phone message, please also detail your symptoms to avoid them having to call you back for these.
If you are on clinical placement you must also let your placement site know.
If your condition gets worse or you develop symptoms that may be related to other illnesses (such as meningitis), please call your GP for advice. Remember swine flu will not be the only illness you may contract and it is important if you are feeling very unwell to contact your GP.
You should also contact your GP directly if you have a serious underlying illness, you are pregnant, you have a sick child under one year old, or your condition is still getting worse after 7 days (5 days for a child).

You should keep a supply of food and paracetamol in your residence
You should identify a flu buddy or buddies at University and in your placement site who can provide provisions for you should you need help and Tamiflu if you are advised to take this.
If you and your flu buddy / buddies are infected and there is no one to get you basic provisions, please contact student services on 01392 264171 and let them know that you are having difficulties. They will arrange for a member of staff to contact you who will assess your situation and arrange assistance.

As radiography students, when on placement you are considered to be hospital staff and will be offered a swine flu vaccination, as are all frontline healthcare professionals. Further information will be provided on how you will receive the vaccination once the vaccination is available and licensed.

Further information on swine flu can be found on the National Pandemic Flu Service online service at https://www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk/.

For those who do not have internet access, the same service can be accessed by telephone on: 0800 1 513 100.

Other useful websites include:

University of Exeter	Handbook (Medical Imaging)	Questions/Comments	Department (Medical Imaging)