Swine flu hits home

A family has been told not to leave their home as a mother and daughter are treated for swine flu.

Samantha Griffiths (28) of Goldstraw Lane, Fernwood, who has type one diabetes, and her daughter Jade (10) are being treated with the anti-viral drug, Tamiflu.

The drug was collected from Carlton, Nottingham.

Yesterday it was announced that Balderton Primary Care Centre, on Lowfield Lane, had been designated as the third collection point for Tamiflu in Nottinghamshire.

Jade, who is believed to be the first pupil at the Mount Primary School, Newark, to have contracted the virus, was diagnosed on Wednesday evening.

Her mother was diagnosed after developing symptoms early yesterday.

They live with Samantha’s parents, Mr and Mrs Ken Griff-iths, who both complained of feeling unwell yesterday and are showing symptoms of swine flu.

Mr Griffiths (53) and his wife Marilyn (49) both work at the Currys distribution centre, Newark, and have been told to stay away for at least five days.

Mr Griffiths said Jade was kept off school on Wednesday as a precaution but later in the day developed a sore throat and was aching all over.

They called NHS Direct. A doctor called back and prescribed Jade with a five-day course of Tamiflu.

Samantha, who works at the One Stop shop in Fernwood, was prescribed Tamiflu by the Fountain Medical Centre, Newark, yesterday.

Mr Griffiths said: “It is a worry with Samantha’s diabetes.”

He said she was not receiving any extra treatment and it was a case of monitoring her condition.

The family has been advised to stay at home and keep warm.

Mr Griffiths said: “So far it doesn’t appear to be worse than any other kind of flu.”

He said it seemed to spread rapidly and the most likely stage of passing on infection was when a person was aching.

Before the Balderton health centre was designated a Tamiflu collection point, those affected had to send someone to collect it from either the Park House Primary Care Centre, Carlton, or the Ashfield Health Village, Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

NHS Nottinghamshire County says Tamiflu can only be collected with a GP referral. Anyone infected must nominate a healthy person to collect it on their behalf.

Anyone arriving at the Balderton centre who shows swine flu symptoms will be turned away.