July 6th, 2009

Swine Flu Update III

swine fluJust a quick update since so many co-conspirators (and even a few sworn enemies) have been kind enough to enquire.  4-year-old Miss Fawkes is reluctantly taking a Tamiflu / chocolate Nutella compound.  She seems firmly on the mend. Fever is past, a little lethargic and a low appetite persists.  Baby Ms Fawkes has her second birthday today, she won’t be having a party, but seems as boisterous as ever – all anarchy on a new pink mini-scooter.

Miss Fawkes’ school is unsure, a few kids are off, some just be pre-cautionary, some unwell.   The local pharmacist told Guido on Friday that he had done half-a-dozen children’s Tamiflu prescriptions that day. Was it summer flu or Swine flu?  We won’t know without testing…

See also Swine Flu Update & Swine Flu Update II.


195 Comments

  1. 1
    freddie flintoff says:

    eh up lad good to here little fawkes ok

    • 4
      Anonymous says:

      Ahem… “Little fawkers” surely?
      IJGMC.

      • 64
        freddie flintoff says:

        english not my strong point lad

        • 75
          Engineer says:

          It’s good enough to get the point over, but it’s a good job your bowling’s better.

          Good luck Wednesday, lad, you know the nation’s with you.

        • 82
          freddie flintoff says:

          let me at em lad BARMY ARMY BARMY ARMY

        • 96
          W.W. says:

          Glad your daughter is OK Guido.
          My Daughter, also two had this a couple of weeks ago, took her to the doctors he sent us straight home with the usual advice.
          No testing, in fact not even any mention of swine flu so we will never know now.
          Though as she oinked every time she sneezed I have my suspicions.
          She is also fine now.

          Why whats happening on wednesday, is freddie taking a snipers rifle to PMQ’s?

          W.W.

        • 100
          freddie flintoff says:

          eh up got to be in cardiff on wednesday

        • 133
          Tartan Army says:

          Will Jonah be in Wales?

    • 11
      Mr Ned says:

      Seconded

      • 15
        Dippy ness says:

        Good news. Nothing worse than sick little ones. Having said that, they are staggeringly resilient. By which time, we parents, are nervous wrecks & on the point of collapse from exhaustion.

        • 17
          Dippy ness says:

          Very Happy Birthday to Baby Fawkes.

        • 156
          jean says:

          In the case of Guido’s child, it’s sounds as if GP’s are acting under government orders. Tamiflu is reported to be ineffective unless administered at the outset – that it’s being given to children WITHOUT tests proving ‘swine flu’ is the cause is wholly unethical. No way would I subject my child’s developing immune system to this type of treatment.

          Only 860 odd cases have been confirmed by Health Officials

    • 19
      Chartered Accountant says:

      Encouraging news, Guido. Fingers crossed that the worst is over for Miss Fawkes and the rest of the family.

    • 44
      Papiere - zeigen mir Ihre Papiere - schnell!!! says:

      Ach Ja!

      Zis news ist sehr gut, Herr Fawkes – all ze very best to Kinder Fawkes!!

      Triumph Acclaim!!!

    • 79
      Canary Wharf Rat says:

      Concur, Fred, Concur.

  2. 2
    Olly boy says:

    Good to hear the little’un is on the mend which is more than can be said of Wacko’s Jocko and Jacko…

  3. 3

    *splutter “fever has passed“. Sub-ed, position, etc.

    Great news.

    • 5
      Sir William Waad says:

      A pink mini-scooter.

      Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!

      • 9
        nell says:

        Glad to hear she’s on the mend. Anxious times when children are ill. Be nice to think we could look to the NHS for help and support at such times – but alas in lots of cases that is not so.

        As for the pink mini-scooter for the littlest one – enjoy – just wait until she wants to learn the violin!

        • 22

          Good news!

          Re the small hurricane on the pink scooter; wear Totectors.

        • 32
          Engineer says:

          Amen to that – very glad to hear that Miss Fawkes is on the mend, and hope that Mr and Mrs Fawkes can relax a little.

          As to Baby Fawkes and the pink scooter – enjoy it while it lasts. Just wait ’till they want to learn to drive…..

        • 36
          Engineer says:

          Entirely echo those sentiments – very glad to hear that Miss Fawkes is on the mend, and hope that Mr and Mrs Fawkes can relax a bit.

          As to Baby Fawkes and the pink scooter – enjoy it while it lasts, just wait until they want to learn to drive….

        • 58
          Adrian Prole says:

          … or you’ve got to take her to bloody ballet lessons!

          Good news though – best wishes to you and yours.

        • 69
          Engineer says:

          Two comments ‘cos they both got modded. Gave up after the second. Thanks for the reprieve, Guido. Trying to stay out of the way of the rugrats, are you?

  4. 6
    It Wasn't My Fault says:

    It started in Mexico

  5. 7
    Posh Tory says:

    Hope they get well soon!

  6. 10
    subrosa says:

    Great news Guido. So today’s a day when your presence in the life of Ms Fawkes junior is essential. Don’t forget, Jelly and Pimms go well together. :)

    • 26
      It's all Balls says:

      Try your Pimms cocktail with dry ginger instead of the usual lemonade. You should mix in the ratio 1:2 instead of 1:3 which is good news, and leave out the cucumber

  7. 12
    Cynic says:

    I blame it on the Government

  8. 13
    Anita Nobasis says:

    Hope they are on the mend did they eat those percy pig gums ?

    Hope Gordon does’t send a message Guido!!

  9. 16
    Master Baiter says:

    On behalf of your many sworn enemies, best wishes to the little ones.

  10. 18
    KingMiguelofTonga says:

    Hope everybody in the Fawkes household is soon fully recovered- Guido your country needs you. If you want a consultation with my medicine man, do not hesitate to ask.

  11. 20
    It's all Balls says:

    Guido

    If you see an email from Brown arrive in your inbox delete without opening!

    It may be a note wishing your daughter well and his track record isn’t good.

    I understand he sent a message of support to Roddick after the Murray game on the basis he has to get one right some time.

  12. 24
    Anonymous Misogynist says:

    I’m glad to hear she’s over the worst.

  13. 25
    Joe Gormley's Grandson says:

    Was it summer flu or Swine flu? We won’t know without testing…

    But it suits the propaganda machine to put it all down to swine flu, not to mention the pharma profits…

  14. 27
    Peter Grimes says:

    “all anarchy on a new pink mini-scooter”

    What the hell did you expect? Has it got gunpowder panniers?

    Glad they are on the mend!

  15. 28
    Anonymous says:

    A little reading for distraction purposes,if needed.

    http://zerohedge.blogspot.com/2009/07/is-case-of-quant-trading-industrial.html

  16. 29
    Trough Mixture says:

    Pleasing news all round.

    Many happy returns to Little Ms Fawkes.

  17. 31
    Observer says:

    The best of health to you all. I’m sure your kids will grow up into a better world if the complete transparency in public affairs afforded solely by the blogosphere continues to prevail without interference from the enemies of truth within the state.

  18. 33
    Dr Feelgood says:

    Sky News:

    Stay at Home If You Are Ill

    People with flu-like symptoms are being advised to stay at home and if possible check their symptoms on the cold and flu symptom checker on http://www.nhs.uk or ring the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513.

    Those still concerned should call their GP rather than visit in person.

    • 51
      Dr Feelgood says:

      Why are you using my username? Poor netiquette.

      • 52
        Dr Feelgood says:

        No, why are you using mine?

        • 71
          Dr Feelgood (Mk 1) says:

          I’ll assume at this point that you are new here and this is just a coincidence.

          May I politely request you choose a new name?

        • 81
          Dr Feelgood says:

          Hey! You’re the newcomer here, let’s compromise, you can stick with the Mk1 suffix if you really want to.

        • 92
          Dr Feelgood says:

          Oh ffs. We have a troll.

          Probably TaT the twat or MB/Hardwidge/harman_pride/Jonty. You forget that Guido can see the IP address.

          Good luck with this one, if that’s the best you can do.

        • 100
          Dr Feelgood (Mk 1) says:

          Just give it up, you’re not funny.

        • 116
          Dr Feelgood (Anus:1st Class) says:

          I am a dick.

        • 117
          Brown's Half Cleaner says:

          Probably “revenge” for you exposing his IP location on the last topic Dr Feelgood.

          Do a FOI to Guido and if it is the same IP addie (being on a yellow card an’ all) then maybe it’s an early bath for Jonty?

        • 119
          tat says:

          that last one was me but not the other ones.

        • 129
          Dr Feelgood says:

          Thanks Brown’s Half Cleaner, I suspect you may be right.

          I expect the next step will be a campaign of abusing other users here in order to undermine my ID.

          At least I can take satisfaction from the moral victory.

        • 135
          Dr Feelgood says:

          Thanks Brown’s Half Cleaner, you’re right.

          The next step will be a campaign of abusing others here in order to undermine my ID.

          At least I will win a moral victory.

        • 172
          tat (twat: 1st class) says:

          i am not the others

        • 181
          tat says:

          people have been ripping off my name for donkeys.
          that is because I AM TOP BOY AND THEY ARE TORY SCUM!
          LIKE YOU!

      • 61
        Tin Cunliffe-Arsely says:

        Too much milk and alcohol perhaps?

    • 55
      bandersnatch says:

      I tried the NHS flu website. (Experimentally)

      Nowhere early on does it ask you to list your symptoms. It seems to be an elimination exercise by faux exclusion alternatives to see you are not mistaking that which you think likely be flu for a heart attack, meningitis and probably
      ingrown toenails… the lot. It goes on for ever, and is TOTALLY unsuitable for the task it purports to do. Who the hell designed it? Even at the end you don’t get through to an intelligent medically qualified voice… doctor, senior nurse or whoever…

      I am told by others that there is a lot of ‘we will ring you back… there is a long wait’… etc etc.

      Since EARLY consumption of of anti virals is important if you are in a high risk category, and do have flu, this is deeply unsatisfactory. Taking them too late is useless.

      Also, the business of getting a docket number and the address of the medication pick up place is again highly complex, and hedged about with many elephant traps, including proof of identity documents, both from the patient and designated ‘flu friend.’ It is set up as an amazingly bureaucratic and put-you-off business.

      Liam Donaldson and co may bleat on about ‘moving into the treatment phase’ but it seems the system is not properly set up.

      How simple it sounds. I quote from NHS guidelines:

      “* GPs will be able to diagnose swine flu on the basis of patients’ symptoms rather than waiting for laboratory testing.
      * The medicines will continue to be offered to all those who show symptoms of swine flu at their doctor’s discretion.
      * They will be used for prevention (prophylaxis) only on the advice of a doctor in high risk groups. These include people with long term conditions, those over 65, children under five and pregnant women.
      *Individuals who require antivirals will be given a voucher reference entitling them to pick up the medication at a local clollection point.”

      Seems straightforward as described, but either the system is not set up properly at all, and where it is partly set up it is over-complicated, slow and cumbersome.

      Good job most of this flu is a mild or moderate illness.

      • 63
        Sir William Waad says:

        If you don’t fall into one of the ‘at risk’ categories you are in very much the same position that you would have been in, say, in 1709 as regards medical help.

        Do MPs get Tamiflu?

  19. 34
    PM says:

    Just waiting for Hardwidge to come on now and spout off about Labour’s record on schools…

    • 39
      Old Rockape says:

      God Forbid.

    • 43
      freddie flintoff says:

      i ll take him in the nets and do some bowling at him lad

      • 47
        PM says:

        Good luck on Wednesday. Watch that ankle, too, you don’t want any more operations.

        Aaarrgh. Done it again. Expect a long essay from Hardwidge on Labour’s record on health.

        • 72
          So17 says:

          And also Pink mini scooter stats.
          Brown- ‘The conservatives would, if in power cut spending on mini scooters by 10% where we the Labour party have introduced measures under the new scooter ”Scrappage” scheme that will enure every toddler can trade in the old stainless steel model for a shiny new pink one’.

        • 118
          Gordon Brown, Financial Genius (not) says:

          We are increasing investment in pink scooters by 0% over the coming year.

      • 183
        tat says:

        freddie,
        you will take him in the nets?
        is that some sort of gay euphimism like tea bagging.
        I don’t even know what tea bagging is ffs.

    • 65
      Abolish the Licence Fee says:

      Looks like the Hardwidge troll has been banished. Let’s hope so anyway.

  20. 38
    no longer anonymous says:

    Good to hear she’s on the mend and happy birthday to Baby Ms Fawkes.

  21. 42
    mad fred 2 para retired says:

    173.

    How many more British troops have to die in your wars Labour?

    • 45
      Big Brother Corporation says:

      Oh, many, many more. When you wage war against a people that even Alexander the Great said are unconquerable, you expect it to drag on and on interminably. In fact, that’s probably why they chose that country in particular to attack. Nothing going on in Northern Ireland these days, so somewhere else has to take over.

    • 68
      The biggest lie of all says:

      When Britain deployed 3,300 troops to Helmand province in June 2006, then Defence Secretary John Reid said: “We hope we will leave Afghanistan without firing a single shot.

  22. 49
    Mike Jecks says:

    Very glad to hear the young Ms Fawkes is on the mend. A scary time for you. Meanwhile, is it not thoroughly depressing that it’s impossible to get a test. It means we’ll never be able to trust government figures (no, really?) about the pandemic, because there’s no way of telling who had swine flu, who had man flu, who had a cold and who had hayfever. Pathetic.

    • 60
      Master Baiter says:

      Wouldn’t it be a waste of public money to test every suspected case?
      The virus has spread to pandemic status already.
      The government plans to sample test to assess the extent of the disease.
      Are you stupid, do you get frequent headaches?

      • 85
        Canary Wharf Rat says:

        MB,
        Good point but why do you always finish your comments in such a fucking stupid objectionable way?
        TWAT.

      • 122
        Tin Cunliffe-Arsely says:

        “The virus has spread to pandemic status already.” -Doesn’t mean much.

        Its debateable as to whether its got hold in England to such an extent that theres no point trying extremely hard to contain it.
        Probably mixed up with on the whole its looking like its not really much different from normal flu.

        Neither of those points has very much to do with pandemic status.

        Anyway…. are you back in Chorley and Missing Canal street life?
        Get yourself on a train, you’ll be there in an hour.

        • 131
          Master Baiter says:

          Was that a scurrilous homophobic slur?
          Please forward it to the indignant Alan Duncan referencing his spat with Ben Bradshaw.
          Maybe Bradshaw was right and there just is a deep strain of homophobia still existing in the Conservitudes.
          Since you bring up sexuality, perhaps simply, you are repressed.

        • 138
          Tin Cunliffe-Arsely says:

          Silly boy.

          More to do with you having to put up with your old dull suburban life for 2 months.
          I am neither homophobic or chorleyphobic.

          However, you tag silly unpleasantries at the end of all your messages, which is ridiculous and doesnt help either your credibility or the quality of the debate.

          I thought it quite a laugh to try my own, and it seems to have been on target.

          By the way – have you ever seen any evidence that I am a conservative? (small c, large C. social, political, monetary, whatever you like)

        • 145
          Master Baiter says:

          Yes

        • 155
          Jonty Jinger says:

          You tell him, Ducky!

      • 140
        Putin says:

        1. Ask the government. After all, they seem to have no problem wasting it in shed loads. Surely they will be able to print some more cash if required?

        2. However that is as defined by the WHO worldwide. There are 7000+ confirmed cases here with 3 deaths.Possibly more cases but the symptoms were probably too mild to warrant a trip to the doctor. No need to panic at this stage.

        3. And how will this be conducted? It could prove a useless exercise and provide no worthwhile data.

        4. Offensive remarks are not worth posting. There are many better than you at this already and therefore your capacity to annoy/shock etc is much reduced as a result,probably to about zero.

        As Plato says:

        ‘Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something’

      • 171
        Old Nick Heavenly says:

        I am Chorleyphobic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  23. 53

    Good news Guido, Mrs Amps and I wish you and yours a successful outcome.

    Ampers.

  24. 54
    McGroom says:

    see http://www.cytokinestorm.com/

    Down the bottom it says Tamiflu and Relenza cannot treat the cytokine storm

    • 74
      Tin Cunliffe-Arsely says:

      Two more things, spammer.

      a) who said it could?
      b) To what extent is “cytokine storm” relevant to swine flu?

      • 97
        Master Baiter says:

        Cytokine storm is what killed in SARS outbreak in Hong Kong and is thought to have been responsible for high death rate amongst young adults during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918/19.
        In other words those with strong immune system (the ‘strong and fit’) may be most vulnerable to the current H1N1 flu.
        By the way, why can’t Cameron admit to planned Conservichewed public spending cuts?

        • 103
          Jonty Jinger says:

          When was Opposition Leader’s Question Time? I missed it.

        • 106
          Master Baiter says:

          This morning on Radio 4 around 8am, as it happens.

        • 113
          Osama the Nazarene says:

          On the contrary Mr Baiter, Cameron has admitted that there would have to be spending cuts. Its the party of the great ditherer, of which you appear to be a supporter, which refuses to come clean on what spending cuts will have to be made.

          You can bet your bottom dollar that they are already planning the cuts but will not reveal them till after the election. Typical NuLiebor deceit. Just like with student top-up fees they promised that these would not be going up and after the election tripled them with some cock and bull story that the situation had changed. The same situation could have been foreseen before the election but it was politically expedient to lie to us.

        • 115
          Tin Cunliffe-Arsely says:

          You know sod all about it jonty.
          You cannot answer simple questions on the subject. You can’t think, your brain just “cut and paste”s things. You’ll do well in your chosen field.

        • 120
          Brown's Half Cleaner says:

          So cutting Quangoes don’t count then Mister Cutty Pastry?

        • 124
          Master Baiter says:

          You can get a verbatim transcript of what Cameron said, know doubt. However, when asked what public spending will you cut if in power he said they would not cut public spending only cut the rate of increase in public spending.
          By the way don’t be so nasty all the time. It’s very bad for the image of the party you purport to support, but maybe you are a Labour plant?
          Maybe Cameron was plain lying.

        • 157
          Jonty Jinger says:

          Maybe you’re lying? Nobody else heard this stuff (except your alter egos) and it wouldn’t be the first time you lied on here. Anyone who masquerades under a succession of different names is a fucking Hoon.

  25. 56
    Ms Fawkes says:

    Daddy, I’m feeling much better now…can I have that bottle of Guinness you promised me?

  26. 57
    McGroom says:

    You might want to ask the Doctor whether taking Tamiflu once you have full blown flu has any effect at all.

    Flu (particularly Swine Flu – H1N1 and Bird flu H5N1) gets the immune system to attack the body, which is why people with strong immune systems are worst affected along with people with compromised immune systems like diabetics and asthmatics.

    The immune system goes into overdrive as the flu virus tricks the body into thinking it is being attacked. The body releases “Cytokines” (site –to-kyne) to fight the fictitious infection. There is a 6 to 24 hour window in the attack where the symptoms are visible but the cytokines have not reached critical mass. This is the time to administer Glaxo’s Relenza or Roche’s Tamiflu, as before this all you are doing is building up a resistance and it just gets passed straight out of the body.

    If you miss this 6 to 24 hour window and the immune system is under full scale attack in what is known as a “cytokine Storm”, Relenza and/or Tamiflu cannot help you. The only thing to do is take vast amounts of antibiotics and hope for the best.

    Luckily, H1N1 – swine flu is not proving that fatal, but everyone popping Tamiflu like Tic Tacs is just helping to create a resistant strain.

    Ask a viral immunologist if Tamiflu will help at this stage, I have been told it won’t.

    Wrongly prescribing Tamiflu could waste many millions of NHS budget.

    see http://www.cytokinestorm.com/

    Down the bottom it says Tamiflu and Relenza cannot treat the cytokine storm

    • 70
      Tin Cunliffe-Arsely says:

      Antibiotics? What for.

      Cytokine storm – involves a fair bit of guesswork as to whether it happened in 1918, and hasn’t been observed for swine flu.

      Thats bloody wierd – a web domain devoted to a rather obscure piece of medical theory.

    • 73
      bandersnatch says:

      As someone who was completely Donald Ducked twelve years ago by GBS due to an over-active immune response to ‘a mild flu’ like illness’ I know about the early or not at all… I am relying on ‘social distance’ and shall try to dodge the postman lest he cough all over me.

      • 148
        Charles Flaccidwidger says:

        I’ve had GBS too. Not the most pleasant to put it mildly.

        • 165
          Jonty Jinger says:

          I had GBH once. Not nice either.

          Perhaps I should not have spoken to that chap in gents of a Manchester wine bar.

  27. 59

    Gr8 to know Little Miss gunpowder plot is getting better.

  28. 62
    HMRC's Bleeding Stone says:

    Glad your family’s on the mend and happy birthday to Baby Fawkes – I hope your house / garden / nerves survive the scooter treatment!

  29. 66
    NewGirl says:

    The female of the species….so much more resilient than the male….
    Glad she’s better Guido, and hope baby Fawkes has a fab b’day.

    • 123
      tat says:

      new girl,
      where the bloody hell have you been?
      oh, and I have been trying to persuade nell to let me spank her but she is not having any of it.
      you are my second choice.
      what say you?

      • 141
        freddie flintoff says:

        eh lad the only thing getting a spanking is the ausses bowlers from me and kp
        BARMY ARMY BARMY ARMY

        • 186
          tat says:

          good one freddie.
          keep flying them down the corridor of incertainty and you’ll win us those bloody ashes lad.

      • 163
        Jonty Jinger says:

        tat sorry to disappoint you but newgirl isn’t jailbait – she’s over the age of consent.

      • 180
        NewGirl says:

        You touch me once and I’ll punch your lights out? That do?!
        PS have been shopping. A lot.

        • 185
          tat says:

          is that a no or are you just playing hard to get?
          more fun that way innit.

        • 187
          tat says:

          are you upset because you were my second choice?
          shit, I knew I shouldn’t of said that bit.
          I was almost in there.

        • 193
          NewGirl says:

          you mean you shouldn’t HAVE said that…

        • 194
          thick as thieves says:

          I just liked the phonetic sound new girl.
          a conscious aesthetic choice. more casual, conversational innit.
          so sue me.
          Christ, what a snob.
          I really would enjoy spanking that bitch’s arse.
          I’d teach the fucker a lesson or two.
          shit, did I post that last bit, fuck I did!
          I’ve definitely blown it now.

  30. 67
    Four-eyed English Genius says:

    Good news about the Fawkettes!

  31. 77
    Room Service 2 says:

    Now the worry about the little one has passed, Guido, can you get onto investigating the £550 worth of hotel ‘premium rate’ movies which Jeffrey Donaldson MP claimed for on expenses?

  32. 78
    angry french john says:

    This (s)wine flu. Think I had it yesterday. Headache, red eye syndrome, being a bit grumpy, lethargic. Then she reminds me that I drank a couple of bottles of Corrbiers on Saturday. It’s the bloody wine flu.

  33. 80
    shrinking sack of shite says:

    Glad to hear all is well. Kids + Flu = poor Mrs Fawkes.

  34. 83
    Vote vote vote for Jacqui says:

    Glad the tiddlers are OK.

    Did Skid & Marks cartoon cheer them and speed their recovery?

  35. 84
    Flying Hake. says:

    Hope that your wee ones recover soon.
    So much trouble from one little germ… first discovered at a American research facility for use against the pig farmers of Cuba

  36. 86
    Papasmurf says:

    Guido..sounds like you have got over the worst of it. From experience, all kids get ill and school is the worst / best place for catching these bugs.

    Personally, I think it is a good thing for children to catch these bugs early on and develop the antibodies for the virus. That way later virus’s don’t have the same impact.

    Parents die a thousand deaths for their children and it is nice to see that even your sworn enemies have empathy for your current predicament….. perhaps we are not all so different after all.

    Oh except a few well known protagonists we have been discussing, and the troughers, and the Nu liebor swine and the bankers and the EU(SSR) and the… and the … and the……….

  37. 90

    Get well soon Miss Fawkes.

    Happy bday to baby Fawkes as well (Hold the bday party when every one is well). It is always good to have a party.

  38. 94
    Cjamesk says:

    Either way, I hope they`re both on the mend Guido.

    Keep up the good work!

    Regards

    Cjamesk

  39. 98
    Osama the Nazarene says:

    Great news but why not test?

    Is it,

    a) pointless
    b) too expensive
    c) both

    I would have thought it would be useful to know but this government just live by spin and bogus announcements.

    • 104

      So the election can be postponed from a bagillion “suspected” cases.

    • 128
      Sir William Waad says:

      (a) pointless I should think, as identifying the virus as swine flu won’t help with treatment.

      • 142
        Tin Cunliffe-Arsely says:

        It would help if we were at a stage where containment was possible, or of great importance.

        So its probably a ratio of a:b

      • 189
        Osama the Nazarene says:

        If I have swine flu I want to take Tami flu. If all I have is summer flu then it is pointless, and possibly counter productive, taking Tami flu. Hence a reason for wanting to know.

  40. 106

    I’m glad all is well – I have 2 girls of similar ages and it is nerve-wracking when they are sick…although they usually bounce back quickly, having passed the bug on to mum and dad, bless them!

    This is very worrying indeed – sounds like the government and NHS has very little interest in the spread of swine flu, hence the sticking-plaster approach. If this virus mutates – which it will do – and the mutation results in increased mortality, then we could be in for a disastrous loss of life unparalleled in modern times. All very well if you are young and fit, but the young and elderly will be dangerously exposed.

    The health service needs to be far smarter – they need to map the spread of the flu in its current form, so if/when it does mutate, and depending on relative immunity of those who have already suffered, tamiflu and medical care can be focussed in the worst affected areas. Currently, this would be Glasgow and London by what appears to be reported. If they can set up tents for binge drinkers at New Year, they can set up tents for critically ill flu sufferers….well, we all know about New Labour priorities and protecting the feckless at the expense of the deserving!

    Reinforces the general suspicion that this government can’t be trusted and the best thing to do is to head for the hills with a carful of food (and booze)!

  41. 125
    shrinking sack of shite says:

    Nice to see Wackos got grasp of french pronounciation.lol

  42. 127
    Centre Parting says:

    Did Gordon, whilst Brown-nosing Sarkozy just say:
    “we are leading the world out of growth”.

    Double negative? Zero percent increase – poor bloke could not get one of Ed Balls’ devalued GCSE Maths exams!

  43. 130
    Anonymous says:

    Swineflu my arse! What a load of over-hyped fuss about relatively little.

    The British must be the softest, most neurotic bunch of drama queens in Europe.

  44. 134
    Matt C says:

    Hope you and teh family get well soon Guido.

  45. 137

    Guido glad to hear all is well and your all on the mend………..myself and family have also had the same symptoms but are getting better….still got bloody horrible dry cough and a bit feverish….my 16 month old daughter has also been ill but she is over the worst of it and Mrs Titanic Captain has been amazing with my pathetic ability to do anything around the house (Nothing new there).

  46. 139
    NHS Direct says:

    “She seems firmly on the mend.” Were the shoots green, Guido?

  47. 143
    Anonymous says:

    This is what the HPA website promises:
    “Everyone who has flu-like symptoms will be assessed by a doctor and if diagnosed with swine flu will be given antivirals to manage their illness.”

  48. 144
    Matt C says:

    good luck freddy and the lads against the aussies today

    • 149
      Matt C says:

      oops got me days mixed up init.

    • 150
      freddie flintoff says:

      is it wednesday already ?

    • 154
      KP says:

      The bus has just left Freddie.

      • 164
        freddie flintoff says:

        oh eck kp im late again strauss aint going to like it

      • 166
        KP says:

        The most popular and pleasant means of reaching the stadium from the city centre is on foot. The final part of the leisurely stroll from the City Centre takes you along the banks of the famous River Taff and the grounds of Cardiff Castle.

        Stewards will be on hand at Cardiff Central station, and at key points along the route, to provide advice and directions.

        • 167
          KP says:

          Found this in a leaflet by my hotel bed freddie. Have you been to this godforsaken place before? I’m totally confused.

        • 170
          freddie flintoff says:

          eh kp lad i got a hangover dark glasses and a taxi will do

  49. 151
    nell says:

    Just watching gordon on the tv with sark*zy.

    Poor brown looks rather poorly too – and very haggard and grey.

    He was wittering on about investment – still thinks we can spend a way out of this black hole of debt that he’s got us into.

    So guess his problem isn’t swine flu – most like raging spendaholism – hope someone comes up with a vaccine soon.

    • 158
      Jonty Jinger says:

      He’s not fit to run the country; not fit morally, physically or mentally.

    • 161
      shrinking sack of shite says:

      he has come up with a vaccine for spendaholism it’s Recessiflu.

    • 177
      Anon says:

      The only vaccine with 100% proven results is double barrelled and has a trigger.

  50. 160
    Putin says:

    122 – MB

    ‘You can get a verbatim transcript of what Cameron said, know doubt. However, when asked what public spending will you cut if in power he said they would not cut public spending only cut the rate of increase in public spending’
    By the way don’t be so nasty all the time. It’s very bad for the image of the party you purport to support, but maybe you are a Labour plant?
    Maybe Cameron was plain lying.’

    I think you may be expressing a few terminological inexactitudes? You are not quoting him ‘verbatim’ (I heard what he said) You are putting a very selective slant on his words,then putting them forward as fact.

    Could that be spin? Maybe you are a Labour plant?

    I think the Guido party is not too worried about it’s image. We encourage members to be off message e.g honest. Suffering fools gladly is also not a manifesto commitment.

  51. 169
    Anonymous says:

    Even Mrs Dale’s dire, man love stuff is more interesting than Guido’s family diary.
    This guff belongs in Femail, not the nation’s most acerbic blog.

    Where’s the spite?

  52. 173
    Sir William Waad says:

    ‘The higher education minister, David Lammy, insisted a degree was still a “strong investment” despite the “undoubtedly tough times”.

    “Businesses are recruiting through the downturn, with growth in some areas, so graduates should remain positive about their long-term prospects,” he said.

    “But, like everyone else, graduates are not immune from the effects of a recession.”‘ (from the Guardian today)

    Tsk, tsk. A higher education minister should be able to produce better English than that and ‘immune from’ is an error. It’s just as well he wasn’t the lower education minister.

    • 178
      Henry W. Fowler says:

      As the Minister for “Higher Education and Intellectual Property”, David Lammy serves Archbishop Fondlebum of Boy in the “Department for Business, Innovation and Skills”. In the circumstances he is lucky not to have been made an ‘Under’ Secretary of State. This may have given him additional propositional difficulty.

  53. 174

    Good news, is a shame you didn’t take them to No 10 and spit through the letter box though, or green card your MP and walk around Parliament.

  54. 188
    Ratsniffer says:

    That’s good news about your children, Guido.

    We just need to pray we don’t get a 1918 spanish ‘flu scenario this winter, because judging by the difficulty in getting tamiflu now, god knows what it will be like when people really do start dropping like flies. Tamiflu, as others have already said, really needs to be taken during the first 24 hours of symptoms, but with phone lines permenantly jammed – as they would be if things really kick off – how the hell are people going to be able to get prescriptions?

    We put our faith, and our lives in the hands of this Government.

    God help us if we really have to test that faith.

  55. 190
    Granma Wuffles says:

    Excellent that Miss Fawkes appears to be over the worst, there is nothing like a poorly child for reducing parents to haggard wrecks. As for the pink mini scooter: shin guards and industrial boots come highly recommended.

    So all those assurances about the NHS having everything under control, never worry, you’re safe with us, was the customary load of b*llcks?

    Sounds like Hardwidge graphically designed the swineflu section of the NHS website.

  56. 191
    john miller says:

    No good trying to pass it off – we all know it’s YOUR pink mimi scooter and Dale refused to use it on the march, which is why you got it back…

  57. 192
    Dr Nuts says:

    Best wishes for the recovery

    Happy Birthday to the young one.

  58. 195
    The Admiral says:

    Hope all is progressing well and the little ones are back to normal, what ever that is.

    There are some odd bugs around at the moment as always in the summer.

    Keep up the good work…..



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PM Speaks for the Nation When Bashing Balls | Quentin Letts
Time for an Alliance | Dan Hannan
Farage’s Plan | ConservativeHome
Guardian Open News is a Failure | Heather Brooke
Balls Calls for Deeper Cuts | Speccie
Lessons from the Thirties | CPS
PMQs Idiots | Harry Cole
Jon Cruddas is Not the Messiah | Dan Hodges

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