| ign="center"> | | | | the UK since the 21st of October 2009, targeting those |
| With winter on its way, the number of cases of flu are | | | | highest at risk first, along with those who live with them. |
| expected to rise - both for swine flu and regular | | | | This "priority group" of 14 million includes people with |
| influenza. At the time of writing, reported cases of | | | | health problems, such as lung or circulation disease, |
| swine flu are increasing fairly steeply. In the last week | | | | asthma or diabetes. Also included are those with |
| of October, the number of new cases rose to 53,000 | | | | diseases which compromise their immune systems, |
| from 27,000 the previous week. The NHS is also | | | | and pregnant women. |
| currently bracing itself for more of its intensive care | | | | If you fall into the "priority group" then you should |
| beds being filled by flu sufferers. | | | | qualify for the first round of vaccinations. Your GP |
| However, before becoming too worried, it's worth | | | | may have already contacted you. If not, then you |
| bearing in mind that the illness itself is not becoming | | | | could get in touch with your GP or go to Directgov's |
| more dangerous. Concerns over the mutation of H1N1 | | | | swine flu vaccination page to find out more. |
| (the swine flu virus) have as yet not come to fruition, | | | | Vaccination is not compulsory, but it is advised. If you |
| and the projected âworst-case scenario' | | | | are pregnant and concerned about how the vaccine |
| number of deaths has plummeted to a fraction of | | | | may affect your unborn, the government advise that it |
| previous estimates. | | | | is safe. In fact, any negligible risk posed by the vaccine |
| The other big development is that a vaccination | | | | would be massively outweighed by the risk of actually |
| programme is now underway for those considered | | | | contracting swine flu whilst pregnant. |
| most at risk. Read on to find out more about what | | | | Will my travel insurance cover me? |
| swine flu is, where it's occurring, the UK's vaccination | | | | Many travel insurance providers will provide cover for |
| programme and how your travel insurance is affected. | | | | swine flu. As with other conditions, the cover will be |
| So, what is swine flu? | | | | invalidated if the insurance was purchased after the |
| Swine flu is an illness of the respiratory system, which | | | | policyholder falls ill. Nonetheless, cover is available for |
| originated in pigs and then passed on to humans. The | | | | those who have to cancel their travel plans due to |
| symptoms are similar to regular flu. The principal | | | | illness, or because they have been warned against |
| symptom is a sudden fever (a temperature of | | | | travelling. |
| 38°C and above), and sufferers may also | | | | It's always a good idea to see whether the |
| experience coughing, sore throat, headaches and body | | | | government are advising against travelling to your |
| aches, fatigue, and occasionally an upset stomach. It is | | | | chosen destination by visiting the Foreign & |
| estimated that 98% of people who contract swine flu | | | | Commonwealth Office website. Not only can you find |
| will recover fully without the need for any hospital | | | | out the latest information about any spread of swine |
| treatment* | | | | flu in the country, but also any other concerns - such |
| To find out more about who's most at risk, and what | | | | as political unrest, crime, risk of terrorism, and other |
| you can do to try and prevent it, read general | | | | illnesses prevalent in the area. |
| information about swine flu. | | | | *Professor Peter Openshaw, Imperial College London |
| Where are outbreaks occurring? | | | | Read more about travel insurance at |
| The majority of cases have occurred in the Americas, | | | | Report this article |
| as the initial spread of the infection occurred in Mexico. | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| As such, the virus has spread widely to the US, | | | | Source: |
| Canada and the western countries of South America. | | | | Republish this article |
| Other countries affected at the time of writing include | | | | |
| the Netherlands and Belgium, countries in the Middle | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| East, India, South Africa and Australia. | | | | >> AOL Mail Server Issue? |
| To find out more about exactly where outbreaks are | | | | >> Why can't I read my email and get add book |
| currently occurring worldwide, and the number of | | | | on this page anymore I have always used this |
| reported fatalities visit the World Health Organisation's | | | | page.Now nothing shows or the page freezes |
| H1N1 page and look at the latest âSituation | | | | >> Why isnt my e-mail working? |
| Updates'. | | | | >> Why can't I access my e-mail? I need to be |
| What about vaccination? | | | | able to get my e-mails... |
| A programme of vaccinations has been underway in | | | | |