Swine Flu

The Council is monitoring the outbreak of swine flu and considering the potential implications for the borough. Public agencies across Berkshire are working together to keep a close watch on the swine flu situation.

There are three steps everyone can take to stay healthy, with the message - catch it, bin it, kill it:

CATCH IT - Germs spread easily. Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough or sneeze.
BIN IT - Germs can live for some time on tissues. Dispose of them as soon as possible.
KILL IT - Hands can transfer germs to any surface you touch such as door handles and telephones, so clean your hands as soon as you can.

The UK formally moved from a containment to a treatment phase for swine flu on July 2 2009. Intensive efforts to contain swine flu, for example through automatic school closures, ended. This was to free up capacity to treat the people who were contracting swine flu daily.

As in other countries, most of the cases reported in the UK have been mild. Only a small number have led to serious illness, and these have often been in patients with existing health problems, such as cancer, that already weakened their immune systems.

The swine flu vaccination programme began on 21 October 2009. Those at greatest risk were offered the vaccine.

The following groups were offered the vaccine, in this order:

  1. People aged between six months and 65 years who usually get the seasonal flu jab.
  2. All pregnant women.
  3. People who live with those whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
  4. People aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
  5. Young children aged over six months and under five years.
  6. Vaccination for healthy children under five years stopped at the end of March 2010.

Vaccination for those in the initial clinical at-risk groups will continue over the summer.


Anyone who suspects they have swine flu should contact their usual doctor.


Swine Flu Latest Updates

Below are a number of links to the latest advice from the leading authorities: