Swine Flu- incubation/infection period?
Discussion
I very much doubt anyone knows how many people have had it, are having it, in this country.
Unless you had a flu severe enough to be admitted to hospital and were then tested, most of the UK population are being diagnosed on the basis of ringing a helpline.
Chest infections, colds, asthma problems are all being diagnosed as swine flu.
The current statistics you hear on the tele seem to be picked out of the air.
Chances of your friend actually having had swine flu are probably very low, we just don't know since mass testing was deemed to expensive, but getting rid of tamiflu stocks that were originally intended for bird flu but are probably going out of date now to buy voters.
Unless you had a flu severe enough to be admitted to hospital and were then tested, most of the UK population are being diagnosed on the basis of ringing a helpline.
Chest infections, colds, asthma problems are all being diagnosed as swine flu.
The current statistics you hear on the tele seem to be picked out of the air.
Chances of your friend actually having had swine flu are probably very low, we just don't know since mass testing was deemed to expensive, but getting rid of tamiflu stocks that were originally intended for bird flu but are probably going out of date now to buy voters.
Lemmonie said:
you are infectious 2-5 days before you show symptoms and generally considered non-infectious as soon as you no longer have symptoms
The last time I read NHSDIRECT it said that you may not show symptoms for 2-5 days, but you're only infectious when showing them, and as the symptoms increase in severity so does you ability to infect others. NHSDirect Web Site - Q/A said:
What is the incubation period for swine flu?
According to the Health Protection Agency, the incubation period for swine flu (time between infection and appearance of symptoms) can be up to seven days, but it is most likely to be between two and five days. But it is too early to be able to provide details on virus characteristics, including incubation period, with total certainty at this time.
When are people most infectious?
People are most infectious to others soon after they develop symptoms, although they continue to shed the virus (for example, in coughs and sneezes) for up to five days (seven days in children). People become less infectious as their symptoms subside, and once their symptoms are gone they are no longer considered infectious to others.
According to the Health Protection Agency, the incubation period for swine flu (time between infection and appearance of symptoms) can be up to seven days, but it is most likely to be between two and five days. But it is too early to be able to provide details on virus characteristics, including incubation period, with total certainty at this time.
When are people most infectious?
People are most infectious to others soon after they develop symptoms, although they continue to shed the virus (for example, in coughs and sneezes) for up to five days (seven days in children). People become less infectious as their symptoms subside, and once their symptoms are gone they are no longer considered infectious to others.
seeing as you will never know who is "going" to have swine flu there is no way of testing how infectious you are during the incubation period. Really the worry is if someone has had it when are they no longer infectious.
Alledgedly my daughter has it. She is three and according to the nhs swine flu on line thingy she was diagnosed and got a perscription for tamiflu. I havnt given it to her as she appeared to be so much better, then she took very ill again and then now sort of ok.
I think it is way to easy to get diagnosed with it to be honest. My GP said due to her fever so long as she didnt have signs of earache, a rash, or chest infection then it "probably" was swine flu. WHO KNOWS!
Alledgedly my daughter has it. She is three and according to the nhs swine flu on line thingy she was diagnosed and got a perscription for tamiflu. I havnt given it to her as she appeared to be so much better, then she took very ill again and then now sort of ok.
I think it is way to easy to get diagnosed with it to be honest. My GP said due to her fever so long as she didnt have signs of earache, a rash, or chest infection then it "probably" was swine flu. WHO KNOWS!
At the beginning everyone was getting nasal and throat swabs taken to confirm diagnosis, now it's "diagnosed" purely on symptoms. There are still flu viruses about which are unrelated to H1N1. Most people I have come across suspect they have swine flu, when they have, in all likelihood, upper respiratory infections.
The masses wouldn't know flu if it hit them with a cricket bat. A runny nose and a headache is not flu !
The amount of people crying for Tamiflu is unbelievable, given their symptoms. Tamiflu can and most probably will make you feel sicker that you already were.
To the original poster, if his friend had it until Wednesday, doesn't that suggest that it is as recoverable from as any other type of seasonal illness. Only people with severe underlying medical conditions need to worry.
Of course there are always exceptions, and the amount of exposure I MAY have had over the past few months, I'm probably a goner :-)
The masses wouldn't know flu if it hit them with a cricket bat. A runny nose and a headache is not flu !
The amount of people crying for Tamiflu is unbelievable, given their symptoms. Tamiflu can and most probably will make you feel sicker that you already were.
To the original poster, if his friend had it until Wednesday, doesn't that suggest that it is as recoverable from as any other type of seasonal illness. Only people with severe underlying medical conditions need to worry.
Of course there are always exceptions, and the amount of exposure I MAY have had over the past few months, I'm probably a goner :-)
True infections rates once you cut through the media-generated hysteria, are surprisingly low for actual swine flu. Based on figures local to my area, around 5-10% positive swab rates are being gathered. So at best, 1 in 10 told they have swine flu, actually do have the virus. The mortality rate is low at the moment, approx. 1:2-400 cases.
The main benefit of the current panic is that the DoH get to try out their pandemic flu action plan - let's hope it works when the next, more virulent waves hit. Next winter could be a very frightening time....
The main benefit of the current panic is that the DoH get to try out their pandemic flu action plan - let's hope it works when the next, more virulent waves hit. Next winter could be a very frightening time....
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