Kingston University is “closely monitoring” the swine flu epidemic, amid fears that the virus could affect staff and students at the University.

The flu which appears to be more successful at attacking children and young adults, has been branded a ‘public health emergency’ by the World Health Organisation, but so far there are no known cases in Kingston.

Only one student is known to have told lecturers that she will not be attending classes because of fears of the potential disease. First year journalism student Kate Kayuda said in an email to tutors: “I have gone to see a doctor and I`ve been advised to stay indoors as my parents have recently been to Mexico and I have come in contact with them straight afterwards. I am currently waiting for results to see if I have swine flu or not.”

The WHO warned the virus has ‘the potential to become a global pandemic’ by spreading via international travel and they urged all governments to ‘step up surveillance.’ The spread of the flu has caused particular concern among Kingston’s multi-national student body.

The university has said it places the “highest priority on the health and wellbeing of its students and staff and will ensure that any advice received from the health authorities is incorporated within its own plans”.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease which infects pigs but is not fatal to them. It does not normally infect humans, but sporadic cases have occurred - usually in people who have had close contact with pigs. But The WHO say this new outbreak of swine flu is different – the genetic material includes a strain of the flu virus that affects humans, birds and swine – enabling it for the first time to be passed on from human to human.  Symptoms are similar to seasonal flu and it is spread in the same way - through coughing and sneezing. At present, it is unclear why it has affected young adults and not children or the elderly.

But Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the UK is better prepared than most to deal with the virus and have £500 million of flu drugs ready, “We have a stockpile of drugs. Tamiflu deals with it once it's started and deals with it very effectively, we know from Mexico.”
Tamiflu, was the anti-viral developed amid the bird flu outbreak in 2004 and UN health chief, Dr Keiji Fukuda, confirmed that years of preparing for bird flu had led to improved stocks of anti-virals worldwide.

So far, no cases outside Mexico have been fatal and it is thought that the severity of cases in the city is because the swine flu mixed with another local Mexican virus, which has not affected foreign visitors.

If you are experiencing strange flu like symptoms after travelling, advice is to ring the doctor before going to see anyone so symptoms can be checked and further infection avoided. For more information and updates visit the WHO.