Learning from the 2009 Pandemic

When swine flu (H1N1) arrived into Glasgow airport from Mexico on 27 April 2009, the UK was catapulted into its most extensive viral management programme to date. Following the emergence of H5N1 avian flu in the Far East over a decade earlier, health services had been alert to the possibility of a n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:InnovAiT: Education and inspiration for general practice
Main Author: Young, Peter
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publications 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/innovait/inr178
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1093/innovait/inr178
http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full-xml/10.1093/innovait/inr178
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Summary:When swine flu (H1N1) arrived into Glasgow airport from Mexico on 27 April 2009, the UK was catapulted into its most extensive viral management programme to date. Following the emergence of H5N1 avian flu in the Far East over a decade earlier, health services had been alert to the possibility of a new worldwide pandemic. Although not the anticipated virus, it was thought that this mongrelized swine and human strain could emulate the Spanish flu of 1918. Working as a general practice registrar during this period was challenging and offered a unique learning experience. Here are some important points to help trainees prepare for similar events in future.