1 in 3 Fears New Flu Strains and Possible Outbreak, UK Survey Finds

A study by The Co-operative Pharmacy in the UK shows that workers would contribute to the spread of any flu outbreak by going to work ill and not recognizing all of its symptoms.  Men would be the worst culprits for spreading what they think is the virus, as more than half said they would still to go to work with the flu (53 percent), compared to 2 in 5 women (42 percent). 

Also contributing to the spread of the illness, more than 2 in 5 men (46 percent) would continue to socialize if they had flu symptoms and almost half (48 percent) would still go to the gym. This compares to 1 in 3 women (33 percent) who would go out and meet friends despite suffering from illness. 

The research highlighted that than 1 in 4 workers (25 percent) are still unsure about the differences between colds and flu also believe that it is scare mongering when they hear that flu can kill yet are worried about an impending outbreak.  More than half of those questioned (55 percent) believe that everyone should be offered the flu vaccination free to prevent an outbreak of the flu. 

According to the survey, 1 in 3 people feel pressured to go to work if they have flu and young workers (those aged 18-24 years) are most likely to feel compelled to go in to work despite having flu.

Of those who said they feel under pressure to go to work, more than half (54 percent) said it was because they believe managers and colleagues think they have a cold and are shirking work, as opposed to actually having the virus. Two in five (40 percent) feel pressured because they dont want a sick day on their record and 1 in 5 (20 per ent) were scared that they would lose their job if they took time off.

According to the NHS, on average, about 600 people a year die from a complication of seasonal flu in the UK. This rises to around 13,000 during an epidemic when a sudden and severe outbreak of the disease occurs. Figures from the Health Protection Agency show that during the 2000-2001 flu season, the number of excess deaths recorded was 910. This jumped to 6,947 in 2001-2002.  In 2007-2008 this figure was 707 rising to 9,798 for the 2008-2009 season and last year (2011-2012) the number of excess deaths was 661.

The poll also found that more than three quarters of those questioned (78.5 percent) will not visit the doctor if they have flu, as they believe they wont be given any treatment.  For those who do visit their GP, half wait between three and five days to go.  Almost one in six people say this is because they dont want to bother the doctor and almost one in eight (12 percent) are unable to get an appointment when they want one. 

Fiona Caplan-Dean, clinical services manager at The Co-operative Pharmacy, says, Although flu is a very common illness, it is highly infectious and in some vulnerable groups of people can develop into much more serious illnesses that can cause complications and even lead to death.  Having a flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from flu but it can also help to protect your family, friends and work colleagues too. The research results highlight the confusion around flu and colds. Although some of the symptoms of flu are similar to colds, if you have flu you will feel much worse and if you get a proper case of it you are unlikely to be able to out of bed. It can make you feel ill for a number of weeks, so if you suspect you have flu it is wise to rest and give yourself enough time to recuperate. This will also help to reduce the risk of passing on the virus.

Professor John Oxford, virologist at Queen Mary University of London, says, The study by The Co-operative Pharmacy rings alarm bells as we head into winter. Employees are feeling confused about what to do when experiencing flu-like symptoms and under pressure to go to work like never before. This could lead to faster spread of the flu virus in warm, enclosed environments full of people such as a typical office which will ultimately cost business more and of course impact on the nations health, which is why the flu vaccine is so important.