Swine Flu 'blown out of proportion' says Evesham councillor (From Evesham Journal)

Swine Flu 'blown out of proportion' says Evesham councillor

9:41am Thursday 30th July 2009

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THE councillor in charge of health for Worcester-shire believes swine flu has been blown out of all proportion and is causing people to panic.

Evesham Town Councillor John Smith said he was annoyed and concerned that the reaction to the pandemic in meetings, conferences and the media has been “over the top”.

His comments followed a debriefing at Wychavon District Council about a conference on swine flu that councillor Anna Mackison had attended.

She said that on Monday an anti-viral centre will be set up in the committee rooms at the Civic Centre in Pershore. It will be open between 12.30pm and 7.30pm. Centres have already been opened in Worcester, Kidderminster and Redditch.

She said: “They are dealing with between 400 and 500 cases a day in these centres.”

But Coun Smith, who is Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for health improvement, was not impressed.

He said: “I think it has been blown out of total proportion.

“I spent an afternoon at the hospital at a board meeting and for three-quarters of an hour there was a presentation on swine flu. Everything is over the top.

“Now, everytime somebody sneezes they think they’ve got pandemic flu. It’s panicking people not only in Wychavon and Worcester but half of the country.

“I think everybody’s going over the top. For heaven’s sake it’s scaring the public, particularly elderly people who are very worried about this.”

Healthy people displaying flu-like symptons are advised to call the National Pandemic Flu Service on 0800 1513100.

Sick patients with serious uderlying illnesses, pregnant women, those with a sick child under one year of age and anyone whose symptoms suddenly get worse or are not improving after several days should call their GP.

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