Government flu campaign relaunched to help combat rise in flu cases

The ‘Catch it. Bin it. Kill it’ campaign was initially launched in 2013 to encourage good hand hygiene practice to prevent the spread of the flu virus.

The decision by Public Health England (PHE) comes as the number of flu cases is at its highest as surveyed over the last three flu seasons.

The most effective ways of preventing the spread of flu are, better hand hygiene and an annual flu vaccination. The ‘Catch it. Bin it. Kill it’ campaign will run for three weeks and be shared throughout the national press, radio services as well as by the use of video and digital advertising.

Head of the respiratory diseases department for PHE, Professor Nick Phin, said: “Through this campaign we are urging everyone to carry tissues and to use them to catch coughs or sneezes, to bin the used tissues as soon as possible and then to wash their hands and kill the germs.

“Although unpleasant, for most healthy people, flu is a self-limiting illness. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, cough as well as sore throat, aching muscles and joints. The best advice for treating flu in healthy people is to stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take appropriate pain relievers, such as paracetamol. Children under 16 should not take any medicines containing aspirin. People in at risk groups who develop symptoms consistent with flu, or if anyone’s symptoms persist or become more severe, they should seek medical advice.”

Information released by PHE indicate that almost three quarters of people aged 65 and over have had the latest flu vaccination, although, less than half of people under 65 with a weakened immune system or health condition have received a vaccination.

Furthermore, less than 45 per cent of pregnant women have been vaccinated despite the evidence to suggest that the flu increases the risk of complications during pregnancy.

In addition, PHE revealed that only 37 per cent of two year olds, 40 per cent of three year olds and 32 per cent of 4 year olds received the vaccination in the form of a nasal spray.

Public Health England have encouraged all health workers, carers and care workers to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of flu to any vulnerable people in their care.

Dr Richard Pebody, works as head of seasonal flu surveillance at PHE, he added: “Prevention of the virus is an even better intervention, and it’s not too late for people in ‘at risk’ groups to get the vaccine for free as they are at much greater risk of becoming seriously unwell if they catch flu, and sadly many end up in hospital. This includes people with health conditions, even those that are well managed, such as asthma, diabetes, heart, lung, liver or renal diseases, those with weakened immune systems, as well as older people and pregnant women. Anyone in these groups who hasn’t yet had the vaccine should contact their GP.”