Bird Flu – Information for Patients

Notice from The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners & New Zealand College of Practice Nurses

 

Doctors are worried about a strain bird flu that may affect your district. Don’t panic. Here are a few commonsense things you can do to lessen any risk.

 

Be prepared:

1.      Store food and water at home to last for one to two weeks, with bottles filled to the top.

2.      Write the phone number of your GP in an obvious place – if you haven’t got a GP, get one.

3.      Hold adequate supplies of your regular medication.

4.      Buy extra supplies of paracetamol (Panadol or similar) and fluids (don’t give aspirin to children under 12).

 

Avoid getting sick if the pandemic arrives in New Zealand:

1.      Remember those good house-keeping tips you got from your grandmother – open your windows (if you can) to ventilate your home properly and maintain air flow.

2.      Where possible, keep your distance from others, at least on metre is good to reduce the spread of this virus.

3.      Keep coughs and sneezes covered. Tissues are best, and put the tissue straight in a rubbish bin.

4.      Rigorous, frequent hand washing with soap and water will help, with good hand drying.

5.      Use your own handtowel to thoroughly dry your hands – change these often. Or use paper towels

6.      Stay away from groups. Schools may close to avoid spreading infection. Some workers may be advised to work from home, so your whole family may well be at home.

 

Managing illness:

1.      Most sick people may have to be looked after at home.

2.      If you live alone, stay in regular phone contact with family and friends.

3.      Remember to keep coughs and sneezes covered.

4.      Wash and dry your hands afterwards.

5.      When nursing sick family you should use a mask, or use a tissue or even a clean cloth as a mask. If the mask gets wet it needs to be changed.

6.      To reduce fever, drink lots of fluids, take paracetamol according to the directions on the label, sponge bathe or take a tepid bath – don’t ‘wrap up warm’.

  

When to phone your doctor or primary health care nurse:

If you have recently returned from overseas and are feeling unwell with symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, headaches or muscle aches, call your general practice for advice. They will tell you what to do.

 

DO NOT VISIT YOUR DOCTOR’S SURGERY UNANNOUNCED

 

What about Using Medication?

There is currently no vaccine against bird flu. If you are interested in obtaining the anti-viral medication Tamiflu, talk to your GP. This medication is designed to help reduce your symptoms when you get sick. However it may not work against this strain of pandemic influenza so do not rely on it as your only defence.

 

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the College of Practice Nurses will continue, as we learn more, to update this advice.  For more information visit: http://www.moh.govt.nz/pandemicinfluenza 

This item posted in the All Points News Bulletin Friday, 18th November 2005.