BRITISH people who have had swine flu so far have recovered well.

The disease may well become more serious if:

People who are already ill or frail get the swine flu.

It becomes more widespread.

The virus changes as viruses often do.

Most people will have little immunity from swine flu as it is unlike any other virus they have come across. It is very different from the usual winter flu. So we need your help in stopping the virus spreading.

The best things you can do to protect us all are basic hygiene. When you cough or sneeze, use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of germs. You must throw tissues away as the virus will continue to live on them for many hours. Wash your hands as soon as you can to prevent you transferring them on to other surfaces.

Many local residents will by now have received their copy of the swine flu information leaflet, which is being delivered to all households across the country and gives more details.

There are other things you can do to protect yourself from the virus.

If you smoke you have about a 45 per cent extra risk of getting flu if you encounter the virus. You can get help to give up smoking by contacting the Bury Stop Smoking Service on 0845 223 9001.

A major complication of flu is pneumonia. If you are over 65 or at high risk, for example have heart disease or diabetes, you should have the pneumoccocal vaccine to help prevent this complication.

If you have not already had this vaccine, just ring up your surgery to arrange to be vaccinated.

If you are worried that you may have flu, you can ring up your general practice in the normal way. Do not just turn up at the surgery as you may spread the virus to others. You may want first to use the flu symptom checker on the NHS Choices website, nhs.uk, or ring NHS Direct 0845 46 47.

The symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, cough or shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose or loss of appetite.

If you have flu-like symptoms and have recently travelled to Mexico or another affected country, or if you are concerned because you think you have been in contact with someone who may have swine flu, stay at home to limit your contact with others.

NHS Bury has been preparing for a flu pandemic for some time, and has a robust plan in place in the event of a flu pandemic, so there’s good reason for us to be confident with our local plans and state of readiness.

If you want to find out more about the current situation, you can call the national automated swine flu information line 0800 1 513 513, or log onto the NHS Choices website nhs.uk.