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The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the UK is one of the best prepared countries for a swine flu pandemic.
Antiviral medicines and antibiotics are available for anyone who becomes ill with the swine flu.
One of the best ways to help lessen symptoms of a pandemic flu is with antiviral medicines, these have been used so far against the current swine flu outbreak. They don't cure the flu but they help to reduce the length of time you will be ill by a day, help relieve some of the symptoms and help reduce the chances of more serious complications such as pnuemonia.
Here are some other useful things to help releive the symptoms of swine flu....
The antiviral drugs are also being given to anyone who has been in close contact with people who have confirmed cases of swine flu.
In the UK there are stocks of Oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza). There is enough of the antiviral drug to treat half of the population.
Antibiotics will also be used during a pandemic. The can be used to treat swine flu infected people if they develop complications, such as a bacterial infection.
If you think you have swine flu, stay at home and rest, take aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol, drink plenty of fluids and check your symptoms with the NHS symptoms checker site here.
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Call the swine flu information line on 0800 1513513
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Call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (England and Wales)
Call NHS 24 on 08454 242424 (Scotland)
Call 0800 0514142 (Northern Ireland)
They will give you advice and tell you what to do next.
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