swine flu

Flu is an illness caused by an infection of the influenza virus. The flu virus constantly changes and there are many different strains of flu.

A new strain of Influenza A (H1N1), also known as swine flu, was confirmed in the UK in April and has spread to more than 100 countries around the world. Swine flu has now officially been declared as a global pandemic.

Although symptoms have generally proved mild, a small number of patients will develop more serious illness.  Many of these people have other underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease, that put them at increased risk.