Swine Flu Information

1800-941100 - 24-Hour HSE Flu Information Line Freephone

WHAT IS PANDEMIC (H1N1)?

Pandemic (H1N1) - previously known as Influenza A (H1N1) - is a new virus and one to which most people have no or little immunity. The virus is not related to previous or current human seasonal influenza viruses. Therefore, this virus could cause more infections than are seen with seasonal flu. Read more

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Flu begins very suddenly, within a few hours of feeling well. The symptoms include:

• Sudden Onset of Symptoms
• High Fever - Temperature over 38ºC/100.4ºF
• Prominent Headache
• Aches and pains - often severe
• Fatigue, weakness can be prolonged for a number of weeks
• Extreme exhaustion -early and prominent
• Runny nose, sneezing, sore throat - common
• Cough -common, can be severe
• Vomiting/diarrhoea - sometimes

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET SICK

If you get sick with a flu-like illness, the HSE recommends that you phone the Flu Information Line on Freephone 1800-941100, available 24 hrs a day.

Listen to the symptoms of flu and the advice on home care. Most people with flu will be able to recover at home within a few days without needing anti-viral medicine or medical care.

If you have severe symptoms, or are in a high risk group, contact your GP/family doctor by telephone. They will decide if you need testing or treatment.

If you do need to be tested or treated the GP may arrange for you to be seen at their surgery or may arrange a home visit. You should stay at home for seven days while ill, unless needing further care. Read more at swineflu.ie

PREVENTION

• Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and have fever and cough
• Always carry tissues
• Always cover your nose & mouth with clean tissues, when coughing or sneezing
• Always dispose of used tissues into a bin immediately
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol based hand cleaners regularly
• Clean surfaces regularly to get rid of germs
• Read more
  

VACCINATION

The HSE has commenced its Swine Flu vaccination programme, with the initial aim of providing vaccines to those most at risk.

Over the coming months, the HSE will offer a Swine Flu vaccine to the entire population, but the vaccine is now available to people in the following categories:

• Anyone aged over 6 months and under 65 years who has:
• Long-term Lung Disease (such as Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis)
• Long-term Heart Disease
• Long-term Kidney Disease
• Long-term Liver Disease
• Long-term Neurological Disease (like MS, Cerebral Palsy)
• Immunosuppression eg cancer treatment (their household contacts are also included)
• Haemoglobinopathies
• Diabetes
• Morbid Obesity (check with your GP)
• And pregnant women (from 14 weeks pregnant to 6 weeks after giving birth)

People aged 65 and over are not considered to be in the most at-risk category, and will be vaccinated at a later stage.

Information about the vaccines has been produced for people in the targeted groups, and will be circulated to GP surgeries, pharmacies, hospitals, and other locations next week.

If you are in an at-risk group and are seeking a Swine Flu vaccine, the best advice is to make contact with your GP to ask about an appointment to get the vaccine. Full details: HSE website

CLINICS

If your GP is not participating you can be vaccinated at a HSE clinic. A list of HSE vaccination clinic locations follows below.

Carlow/Kilkenny

Where:
Pre-Discharge Unit, Kilcreene Hospital, Kilkenny
When:
2 Nov - 6 Nov, 9.30am-4.30pm
16 Nov - 20 Nov, 9.30am-4.30pm

Where:
St Anne's Ward, St Dympna's Hospital, Athy Road, Carlow Town
When:
9 Nov - 13 Nov, 9.30am-4.30pm
23 Nov - 27 Nov, 9.30am-4.30pm

Cavan/Monaghan

Where:
Ballinagh Community Centre, Main Street, Ballinagh, Co Cavan
When:
9 Nov - 10 Nov, 9.30am-5pm
23 Nov - 24 Nov, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Balieboro Community Centre, Chapel Road, Bailieboro
When:
5 Nov - 6 Nov, 9.30am-5pm
19 Nov - 20 Nov, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Teach na Daoine, Oriel Rd, (off Clones Road), Monaghan
When:
2 Nov - 4 Nov, 9.30-5pm
16 Nov - 19 Nov, 9.30-5pm

Where:
St Mary's Hospital, Castleblaney
When:
11 Nov - 12 Nov, 9.30-5pm
25 Nov - 26 Nov, 9.30-5pm

Clare

Where:
HSE Community Physiotherapy Dept, Tobartaoscain, Ennis
When:
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Cork

Where:
Neptune Stadium, Blackpool, Cork City
When:
Mon, Tues 10am-4pm
Thur, Fri 10am-3pm

Where:
North Cork: Mallow GAA Complex, Mallow, Co Cork
When:
Mon-Fri 10am-3pm

Where:
West Cork: Clonakilty Industrial Hall, Clonakilty, Co Cork
When:
Mon-Fri 10am-3pm

Donegal

Where:
Mulroy Room/Gweebarra Room, Education Centre, St Conal's, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
When:
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Dublin (North)

Where:
Darndale/Belcamp Community Sports Hall, behind Darndale/Belcamp Village Centre, Priorswood Rd, Darndale, D17
When:
Mon- Fri 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Ballymun Health Centre, Ballymun Civic Centre, Dublin 9
When:
Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm

Where:
St Brendan's Grangegorman Development Agency, St Brendan's Hospital, Rathdown Road, Dublin 7
When:
Mon, Thur, Fri 9.30am-5pm

Where:
FOLD Housing Unit, Cherryfield Lawn, Hartstown, Dublin 15
When:
Tue-Wed, 9.30am-5pm

Dublin (South)

Where:
Bru Chaoimhin, Cork St, Dublin 8
When:
Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
HSE Primary Care Centre, Rockfield Medical Centre, Balally, Dublin 16 (near Balally Luas Station/Dundrum Town Centre)
When:
Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
St Colmcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown
When:
Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Education Centre, Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght
When:
Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Bridge House, Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin 10
When:
Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm

Galway

Where:
Galway Education Centre, Merlin Park Hospital, Dublin Road, Galway City
When:
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Kerry

Where:
St Columbanus' Home, Killarney, Co Kerry
When:
Mon-Fri 10am-3pm

Kildare/West Wicklow

Where:
Out Patients Department, Naas General Hospital.
When:
Tue 2pm-5pm
Thur 9.30am-5pm
Fri 2pm-5pm
(By appointment only - Tel 045 981855)

Laois/Offaly

Where:
Riada House, Arden Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly
When:
5 Nov - 6 Nov, Fri 9.30am-5pm
9 Nov - 11 Nov, Mon, Tues, Wed 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Tribunal Rooms, St Fintan's Hospital, Portlaoise
When:
2 Nov - 4 Nov, 9.30am-5pm
12 Nov - 13 Nov, 9.30am-5pm

Limerick

Where:
HSE Building, Ballycummin Business Park, Raheen Industrial Estate, Limerick
When:
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Longford/Westmeath

Where:
Ward 1, Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
When:
Mon - Tue, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
St Joseph's Care Centre, Dublin Road, Longford
When:
Wed, Thur, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
HSE Resource Centre, Clonbrusk, Athlone, Co Westmeath
When:
Fri, 9.30-5pm

Louth

Where:
Louth Community Services, Dublin Rd, Dundalk, Co Louth
When:
Tue, Wed, Fri, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Haymarket Health Centre, John Street, Drogheda, Co Louth
When:
Mon and Thur, 9.30am-5pm

Mayo

Where:
Clinical Decision Unit, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, Co Mayo
When:
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Meath

Where:
Dunshaughlin Health Care Unit - Ground Floor, Dunshaughlin
When:
Mon and Fri, 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Physiotherapy Dept, Our Lady's Hospital Campus, Navan
When:
Tue, Wed, Thur, 9.30am-5pm

Roscommon

Where:
Flat 4, Roscommon County Hospital, Roscommon Town
When:
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan

Where:
Nazareth House, Church Hill, Sligo Town
When:
Mon-Fri, 9.15am-5.15pm

Tipperary North

Where:
HSE, The Derg Centre, Gortland Roe, Nenagh, Co Tipperary
When:
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Tipperary South

Where:
St Claire's Ward, St Luke's Hospital, Western Road, Clonmel
When:
Mon, Tues, Wed 9.30am-4.30pm

Where:
Our Lady's Hospital, Boherclough St, Cashel
When:
Thurs, Fri, 9.30am-4.30pm

Waterford

Where:
HSE Community Services, Cork Road, Waterford
When:
Thurs 9.30am-4.30pm
Friday 9.30am-12pm

Where:
New Community Day Hospital, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
When:
Mon, Tues, Wed, 9.30am-4.30pm

Wexford

Where:
St John's Old Community Hospital, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
When:
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Wicklow

Where:
Wicklow Health Centre, Glenside Road, Wicklow
When:
Mon, Tues, Fri 9.30am-5pm

Where:
Newcastle Hospital, Newcastle, Greystones
When:
Wed, Thurs, 9.30am-5pm