Language: English
Welcome to EPG Patient Direct
The healthcare portal for patients and the general public in Europe
- Conditions and illnesses
- Managing your health
- Lifestyle advice
- Treatment choices
Health News
- Depression affects three out of four in UK
Published 01 February 2010 - Well off use more drugs than the jobless
Published 01 February 2010 - Male breast op numbers 'growing fastest'
Published 01 February 2010 - York's 2010 Race For Life launched
Published 01 February 2010
Please note that these news articles link to external websites.
Your Vote
There is currently no poll for this section.
Find Out More About
This service contains links to third party websites. EPG Patient Direct is not in a position to verify this information and cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the content contained.
Health News ArchiveEPG Patient Direct Health News
Swine flu parties discouraged by medical expert
15 Jul 2009
People hoping to develop an immunity to the H1N1 virus have been discouraged from holding swine flu parties.
Dr Maureen Baker, honorary secretary at the Royal College of Practitioners, warned individuals that they were not a good idea.
"Although [swine flu] is mild for most people...some people do get severely ill and you can't necessarily predict who those will be," she explained.
"To go out of your way to catch it therefore seems foolish to me."
The number of swine flu-related deaths is on the rise in the UK, with six-year-old Chloe Buckley becoming the latest victim.
In an attempt to protect people from the virus, Britain's National Health Service is intending to vaccinate everyone in the country against swine flu.
The UK Health Protection Agency said earlier this month that the majority of swine flu cases have been mild, despite the number of deaths continuing to rise.
The age group most affected by the spread of the virus is those between five and 14-years-old.
Click here to visit the Flu Quick Guide
Delicious
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Related Influenza News
- Fewer public health workers put off by flu outbreak 27 Jul 09
- Complications more likely in older swine flu patients 14 Jul 09
- Most people do not alter behaviour after swine flu outbreak 13 Jul 09
- Influenza virus in 1918 established viral dynasty era, scientists conclude 30 Jun 09
- Targeting children could prove most effective influenza vaccination strategy 18 Jun 09
- Swine flu 'set to become a global pandemic' 11 Jun 09
- More swine flu cases predicted for the autumn 04 Jun 09
- Molecular mechanism allows flu virus to bypass body's defences, researchers discover 03 Jun 09