Perthshire dad warns against swine flu

Feb 9 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A PERTHSHIRE father has urged some of the region’s most vulnerable residents not to ignore the threat posed by swine flu.

Auchterarder’s Logan Steele (51) is an asthmatic and was invited to receive a vaccination against the H1N1 virus as he’s listed as being in one of the Scottish Government’s priority groups.

Anyone with what is described as “underlying health problems” will have received a letter from their GP recently asking them to accept an inoculation against the still-active disease.

An adult in the NHS Tayside area died in late December after contracting swine flu and is, so far, the only fatality the region has suffered since the outbreak began.

Mr Steele, who is a general manager at a Lang Toon business, said: “When I get ordinary flu it generally sits on my chest for quite some time, which makes breathing difficult. My daughter is also an asthmatic and so I would not wish to pass swine flu onto her and put her at risk as well,” he said.

Mr Steele had the swine flu jab prior to Christmas.

He continued: “I was also sent a fact sheet outlining what I might expect in terms of side effects.

“Once I weighed-up the pro’s and con’s I was happy to take the vaccination and would recommend it so people can protect themselves and those close to them.”

Official Scottish Government statistics reveal that, as of February 1, there have been 1534 people hospitalised since the start of the outbreak last year.

It is believed to have claimed the lives of approximately 60 people in Scotland alone.

The pandemic is being closely monitored by Holyrood health officials.

Information is available from www.nhs24.com and www.scotland.gov.uk.

Alternatively, calls can be lodged with the Scottish swine flu vaccination helpline on 08000 28 28 16.