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Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 10:00 GMT 11:00 UK

My son came down with swine flu on Friday afternoon after I received a phone call from the school. I was not able to speak to anyone personally at all over the weekend and i found the whole situation very worrying and frustrating. It was not until I waited outside my doctors surgery Monday morning, waiting for them to open, that I was able to get a doctor to ring me.

I am disgusted that I was not able to speak to anyone, my son was extremely ill and I felt I was not able to provide for him.

Sarah Provis, Bristol

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:57 GMT 10:57 UK

Two people have died who have been described as having no underlying health issues,well the 6 year old who died,the human immune system is still in it's developing early stages even at that age & the doctor who died,he was 64,by that age your immune has certainly started weakening plus he would be in the bracket for what our government have described as the "vunerable elderly".
Tiredness & stress from his job could also have been contributing factors.

Rod Dublin, Aldershot, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:57 GMT 10:57 UK

Thre has been an over-reaction to this "flu epidemic" amongst the general public. OK so this is down to the government and lack of information. What most people should be made aware of is the fact that anti-virals will only be available to each person once. If you have anti-virals prescribed now you will be inelligible when the main wave of swine flu hits later this year.
On another point, few people are being fully diagnosed. the majority are suspected cases only, could be just a summer cold.

LG56, Skelmersdale

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:55 GMT 10:55 UK

Of course it’s out of control. However what do you do, force everyone to stay at home until it blows over? No of course not so you can’t contain it so just get on with your life. We have to get this in perspective, normal illnesses etc kill thousands a year which you have a bigger risk of catching.

The trouble is we have a government pandemic squad who have to justify their existence and a media who want a disaster to happen to make their news interesting! Hence more too much hype.

Peoples Poet, Hull, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:50 GMT 10:50 UK

If it turns nasty then many people could die. Just look at the pandemic of 1918. There will be little help from the NHS as they will be overwealmed. The advice is stay at home isolate yourself from others and hope the antivirals work. Think about it visit the pub or going to work or school could put your life in danger.
And before you say it people have already died and they project we may have to live with this virus for 5 years.
And now I hear there are saftey concerns about the vaccine.

Tim, Bideford

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:50 GMT 10:50 UK

I think swine flu is being over-dramatised,i cant help thinking "whats the real fuss?",by all accounts it's no worse than having a bad cold.A timley reminder of the Spanish Flu outbreak in the aftermath of WW1 is needed,50 million is quoted for the number of deaths worldwide over a 2 or 3 year period,particularly in countries still struggling to recover from the after-effects of WW1 where health facilities were minimal or non-existant,In the modern world we are a healthier & stronger people.

Rod Dublin, Aldershot, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:50 GMT 10:50 UK

In China and Hong Kong they wear a face mask that may not be 100% but it is better than having people cough all over you on buses and trains.

That is why they keep it under control and less people effected and less die.

In the UK we are now warned that 1000's will be effected.

NOT ONCE did I hear doctors, MP's or people that advise us say wear a face mask

Michael Fletcher, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:45 GMT 10:45 UK

Some how I’m managing not to quake in fear of a disesase that has a similar mortality rate to normal seasonal flu. Especially since in many cases the symptoms may be even milder. Of course the press hysterically publishing every worse case projection as fact because it sells news papers/ raises viewing figures tends to make the ill informed panic, but really swine flu is not a major killer in this country.

[eConundrum]

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:38 GMT 10:38 UK

Is the fact that this outbreak is hitting the young far more than the older Generation, down to the fact that many Mothers seem to be obsessed with protecting their Children from everyday Germs.
i.e. spraying and cleaning the house with every available chemical that can be bought from the Supermarket.
Surely its better to build up your immunity to germs at an early age?

M.P.Fiddler, Poundland

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:38 GMT 10:38 UK

In addition to the advice given - currently directed at pregnancy and under 5's - (hand washing, avoid crowded areas, etc), it might be wise to remember that a virus can transmit from person to person via contaminated droplets in the air, the ones that are often expelled during normal conversation and can travel up to 1m/2m distant

James, Tunbridge Wells

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:32 GMT 10:32 UK

Is the government over hyping "swine Flu " so that we will forget that they are signing over our hard one liberties to the EU . Gordon Browns dissaster ladened primiership and his refusal to give us a referendum on the Con -lisbon Treaty despite promising such in his partys manifesto is now off the front pages . How many people die of "normal flu " Comments from people here who have Swine flu confirms it is no more dangerous .So why all the hype ? I smell a cover up and its Brown !

john brereton, london, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:30 GMT 10:30 UK

Next year the NHS is going to make thousands redundant because of lack of funds.This goverment is now issuing daily reports to scare the public into thinking that the flu is a killer and will blame swine flu for extra costs to the NHS in prevention measures.

Andrew, WOLVERHAMPTON

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:29 GMT 10:29 UK

What kind of question is this? Swine flu is about as much controllable as the common cold. The media really have gone to town over this like a storm in a tea cup. I'd love to hear what they teach at journalism school because the BBC and others have really lost my trust in reliable and objective news promulgating mass hysteria to the people that want to believe.

[buckrogers], Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:27 GMT 10:27 UK

I am getting sick of listening about swine flu now, how many people die ever year from normal flu in the winter but we never hear about that. Lets all try an use a little common sense.

V B, Wakefield, United Kingdom

Added: Monday, 20 July, 2009, 09:23 GMT 10:23 UK

Why don't people just buy anti-bug hand gels and use them each time they enter the house? I'm surprised that the Health Secretary hasn't suggested that there should be these hand gels available at the entrances of all public buildings, especially places like Libraries. It seems to work well in my local hospital where there is a hand gel pump at the entrance of every ward. It would help to reduce the spread of bugs and give people something positive to focus on.

Angela Gelston, Lancaster