Last updated at 10:55, Monday, 13 July 2009

SELLAFIELD has been hit by swine flu.

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A spokesman for the company has confirmed a “small number” of workers are being monitored for the virus.

The news comes just a day after the first confirmed case of the flu hit Barrow.

After being probed by the Evening Mail Sellafield issued the following statement last night: “We have been made aware of a small number of suspected cases in workers on Sellafield Ltd sites. This is to be expected given the outbreak.

“These cases are being monitored in conjunction with appropriate medical advice.

“There is currently a great deal of media coverage surrounding swine flu.

“At Sellafield a team of people, including the company chief medical officer, have been monitoring the situation closely over recent weeks.

“The team, who are in contact with public health specialists, are meeting regularly to ensure the company are best able to manage any potential impact on our sites and our employees as well as our contractor community.

“In addition we do have a site Flu Pandemic Contingency Plan already in place.

“We are communicating regularly with employees and are asking them to follow the advice issued by the government and the Health Protection Agency.

“All absences from work are being notified to line managers following the usual procedures and these are being monitored.”

A 23-year-old shop worker from Barrow became the first confirmed case of swine flu in South Cumbria on Thursday. Before the Barrow outbreak the county’s only confirmed case was an American tourist staying in Carlisle.

A spokeswoman for NHS Cumbria Primary Care Trust, which operates the county’s doctors surgeries, said it is expecting an increase of suspected cases in the county.

The spokeswoman said: “The majority of people who have had swine flu so far have described mild cold or flu-like symptoms.

“Instead of being swabbed and tested for swine flu, suspected cases will now be diagnosed by their GP – this means anyone with flu-like symptoms will be treated as having swine flu.

“We therefore expect to have more suspected cases in Cumbria in line with the experience of most other part of the country.

“Many people will be able to recover from swine flu without the need for antivirals and may therefore choose not to seek treatment.”

A warning has been issued for people who suspect they have the virus to stay away from their GP surgeries and hospitals. Instead residents should check their symptoms online at www.nhs.uk, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or call the swine flu information line on 08001 513513.

First published at 10:49, Saturday, 11 July 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk