Pandemic flu - Prevention

The most effective way to prevent the spread of infections, such as flu, is to practise good hygiene. A seasonal flu jab is also available for people who are most at risk.

You can protect yourself and your family by:

• ensuring everyone washes their hands regularly with soap and water
• cleaning surfaces regularly

You can prevent a virus spreading to others by:

• always carrying tissues
• using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze
• binning the tissues as soon as possible
• washing your hands regularly

The phrase 'catch it, bin it, kill it' is a simple way to remember this.

Seasonal flu jab

This winter, the swine flu virus has been included in this year's seasonal flu jab. It means that the vaccine will protect you from swine flu, as well as other strains.

Vaccination is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from flu:

• people with a serious medical condition (see paragraph below)
• people aged 65 or over
• pregnant women (see below)
• people living in a residential or nursing home
• the main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill
• healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care
• those who work in close contact with poultry, such as chickens

This winter, the seasonal flu vaccine will be extended to pregnant women not in the high-risk groups.

Usually, only pregnant women in high-risk groups are offered the seasonal flu vaccine.

For more information about flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab, see seasonal flu jab.

Conditions that increase your risk

The seasonal flu jab is offered free of charge to anyone over the age of six months with the following medical conditions, as they are at higher risk of catching flu:

• chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as severe asthma, COPD or bronchitis
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• chronic kidney disease
• chronic liver disease
• chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson's disease or motor neurone disease
• diabetes 
• a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)

Antiviral medication

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends the antiviral medicines oseltamivir and zanamivir to prevent flu if all of the following apply:

• The amount of flu virus circulating is sufficient to mean that if someone has a flu-like illness, it is likely to have been caused by this flu virus.
• The person has a certain medical condition (see above) or is over 65 years of age.
• The person has been in contact with someone with a flu-like illness and can start treatment within 36 hours (zanamivir) or within 48 hours (oseltamivir).
• The person has not been effectively protected by vaccination (see below).

People who are not effectively protected by vaccination include:

• Those who have not been vaccinated since the previous winter.
• Those who cannot be vaccinated, or who have been vaccinated but it has not taken effect yet.
• Those who have been vaccinated for a different form of flu virus.

If there is an outbreak of seasonal flu in a residential or nursing home, oseltamivir and zanamivir may be offered to people if they have been in contact with someone with confirmed flu. This is because these homes are closed places in which flu can spread quickly.

For more information, see the NICE guidelines on antivirals to prevent influenza.