Website of the UK government

National Pandemic Flu Service

If you are in England and feel like you may have swine flu, visit the National Pandemic Flu Service by following the link below, or call 0800 1 513 100 (textphone - 0800 1 513 200).

People who have swine flu symptoms will be given a unique access number and told where their nearest antiviral collection point is. They should then ask a flu friend - a friend or relative who doesn't have swine flu - to go and pick up their antivirals from their nearest antiviral collection point. The flu friend must show their own ID as well as that of the patient.

• National Pandemic Flu Service Opens new window

Check your symptoms

Follow the link below or call 0800 1 513 100 (textphone - 0800 1 513 200)

• National Pandemic Flu Service Opens new window

Contact your doctor directly rather than using the National Pandemic Flu Service if:

• you have a serious underlying illness
  
• you are pregnant
  
• you have a sick child under one year old
  
• your condition suddenly gets much worse
  
• your condition is still getting worse after seven days (five for a child)

• Treatment and prevention

• Pregnant women and parents

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

If you are in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland the advice is different.

Follow the 'information around the UK' link below.

• Information around the UK

Latest news - 5 November 2009

There were 84,000 new cases of swine flu in England last week, up from 78,000 the week before. Most new cases in the last week have been among the under-one and one to four age groups.

The Health Protection Agency estimates there have been 621,000 cases of swine flu in the UK since the pandemic began.

Swine flu vaccine

Vaccinations against swine flu began on 21 October. People in high-risk groups, such as those most at risk from seasonal flu and pregnant women, are being given priority.

Vaccination against swine flu is not compulsory, but people in high-risk groups are being strongly advised to have the vaccination.

For more information on the swine flu vaccination programme, follow the link below or download the swine flu vaccination information leaflet.

• Swine flu vaccination programme

• Download the swine flu vaccination information leaflet (PDF, 222K)

• Help with PDF files

Hajj and Umrah

The Saudi government has issued swine flu advice for people considering the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages this year.

The elderly, pregnant women, the chronically ill and children are advised not to take part this year.

You will also need to prove that you have been vaccinated against seasonal flu before applying for a visa.

• Swine flu advice for Hajj pilgrims

Evidence that you are sick

You do not need to provide a doctor’s sick note for the first seven days you are sick. If you are sick for more than seven days, you will need to ask your doctor for a sick note for your employer.

For more information, follow the link below.

• Swine flu - self certification and Statutory Sick Pay

Do you have swine flu (influenza A H1N1)?

Symptoms of swine flu include a fever, cough, headache, weakness and fatigue, aching muscles and joints, sore throat and a runny nose.

Learn how to check if you have swine flu and who is most at risk.

• Do you have swine flu?

• What is swine flu? - NHS Choices Opens new window

• Symptoms of swine flu - NHS Choices Opens new window

• Who is at risk from swine flu? - NHS Choices Opens new window

Treatment and prevention

If you are in England, you can now get antivirals to treat swine flu from a local collection point without seeing your GP. If you are in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, contact your GP or call your specific helpline.

Groups that will be given priority for the swine flu vaccine have been announced. These include pregnant women and people with serious underlying health conditions.

You can also find tips on how to reduce your risk of catching swine flu.

• Swine flu - treatment and prevention

• Common questions about swine flu - NHS Choices Opens new window

Pregnant women and parents

While most pregnant women with swine flu will only have mild symptoms like most other people, there is a higher risk of developing complications. Pregnant women will be given priority for the swine flu vaccine when it is available in the Autumn.

Follow these simple tips to keep yourself and your child safe.

• Schools, parents and pregnant women

• Pregnancy and swine flu - NHS Choices Opens new window

Travel advice

If you have swine flu, do not travel until after your symptoms have stopped.

If you need to cancel your holiday, keep all the original documentation you receive, including the label from your medication, as insurers will need it to validate your travel insurance claim.

• Swine flu - travel advice

• FCO travel advice by country Opens new window

Travelling to the UK

While there have been cases of swine flu in the UK, travel to the UK is not restricted.

If you get swine flu while in the UK you will be able to access the same advice and treatment as UK residents. However, if you have symptoms of swine flu, you should delay travelling until you are well.

• Travelling to the UK

Government action

The National Pandemic Flu Service has been launched, with antivirals available at local collection points. If you feel like you may have swine flu, visit the new website by following the link below, or call 0800 1 513 100.

Find out what else the government is doing to help combat swine flu and protect everyone living in the UK.

• National Pandemic Flu Service Opens new window

• Swine flu - what the government is doing

Swine flu and businesses

The NHS has issued detailed guidance for employers.

Business Link carries information on business risks and continuity planning and on the Business Advisory Network for Flu.

• Swine flu - advice for businesses Opens new window

• Pandemic Flu - Guidance for businesses (PDF, 530KB) Opens new window