County swine flu diaries
Shropshire families have been keeping diaries during the swine flu outbreak. Here are the latest entries.
John Kertland, 47, is a college lecturer and the boss of Caroline True Records.
He lives in Shrewsbury with his wife, Daphne, 48, son Seb, 21, and stepson Titus, 19.
John writes . . .
"In the last week there has been a heightened level of concern regarding swine flu and its effects. Daphne has two colleagues at work who are thought to have the virus.
"Both are currently off sick.
"The introduction of the national swine flu helpline met with an unprecedented response.
"According to the Government, there is a massive stockpile of Tamiflu available without a prescription. However, it may be considered that resources will be stretched in the event of another escalation in cases.
"Listening to BBC Radio, I heard that there are at least eight other types of virus currently doing the rounds that may be confused with swine flu. None of those are pleasant and all may cause high levels of concern in the current climate.
"I suspect that along with those, and without a distracting summer weather "feel-good" factor at the moment, some people may be quickly off the mark in mis-diagnosing their symptoms.
"At present our family is not directly touched by the pandemic, but it makes total sense to be vigilant."
Public sector worker Steve Tyrer, 34, lives in Lawley, Telford, with his wife, Collette, 39, and their children, Danya, six, and twins Jorga and Kiera, three.
Steve writes . . .
"Today I have been telling people about the diary and almost everyone offered advice from 'you're better getting it now than in the winter months' to 'you only need to worry if you are old or young'.
"I came to the conclusion that everyone said these things to make themselves feel better. I have also had a few friends both at work and around our estate go down with suspected swine flu so it seems to be spreading and getting closer.
"The following morning my eldest daughter, Dayna, came into our room complaining of a sore throat; we both thought oh no has it hit the Tyrer household?
"Luckily after a few drinks she stopped complaining about it and developed no other symptoms, a retreat for now I'm sure. I heard the shocking and scary news that the Government was proposing that schools were kept closed to try to combat the spread of the virus: What will parents make of this?
"Another thing I heard is that swine flu is being spread through contact with money. My wife has bought antibacterial hand gel and is using it to prevent the possible spread of infection. We also intend to use our cards a lot more to pay for things. We can only hope that it helps."
Mum Jools Payne, 50, from Oswestry, runs Jools Payne Partnership communications. She lives with her partner, Ian, 51, and three children, Max, 16, 13-year-old Holly and Naomi, 18.
Jools writes . . .
"I'm staying in bed. I've got stiff aching joints, can't move and am feeling as rough as a badger's backside. Am I suffering an outbreak of mild paranoia? Is this just another bad rheumatoid day or the onset of swine flu? Reading the papers isn't helping.
"Holly is the only one brave enough to bring me cups of tea. I haul myself out of bed to go to a wedding party in the evening and catch up with old friends. Within minutes the conversation turned to swine flu. Everyone seems so worried.
"Next day, I'm back in bed. Ian, Naomi and Max disappear to play cricket. Little nurse Holly is left to look after mum. The only way I can get downstairs is by sliding my back against the wall, taking one stair at a time.
"I get the to bottom stair to hear Max let out a huge sneeze in the hall. "Wash your hands straight away!" I yell, before launching into a 'catch it, bin it, kill it' lecture.
"I arrive at work for my colleague, Victoria, to inform me her friend, with whom she spent Saturday, was confirmed as having swine flu yesterday. I send Ian to buy antiseptic hand gel, tissues, LemSip. Paranoid? Definitely! Next day, I feel a lot better."
