Call for contingency plans over swine flu

The advice comes from Shaun Carvill, managing director of Clickingmad.com, a webpage solutions business based in Bridgnorth.

He recently suffered a bout of the flu and was taken ill with very little warning.

Mr Carvill said: "People should have contingencies in place. I have got staff who were able to step in and fill in gaps when I wasn't available. I went down with the flu very quickly, in just a couple of hours. People need to be ready for the flu and put some 'what if' plans in place."

Mr Carvill had to take to bed and was still unable to do any work for about three days.

He had started with what he describes as a weakness in the chest and then his condition deteriorated rapidly until he was suffering aches and pains "in every muscle".

Meanwhile, Shropshire health officials are continuing to encourage the public to follow basic advice to help reduce the spread of the virus, such as covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly and carefully, and washing hands frequently with soap and water.

A national vaccination programme was launched last week and is well under way in the county.

Dr Chris Weiner, public health consultant with NHS Telford and Wrekin, stressed that the vaccine was safe.

"We know that it will help to keep vulnerable people out of hospital over the winter months and will save lives," he said.

"We have been completely reassured over the safety of the vaccine and I will be encouraging family and friends, and the rest of the population, to use it."

Figures for England last week showed a drop in the estimated number of new cases of swine flu - possibly due to the half-term school break.

There were 64,000 cases down from 84,000 the week before.

Across the West Midlands, 23 people have died from the virus.

By Dave Morris