EndocrinologyGP Dies After Contracting Swine Flu - British Medical Association Statement
Commenting on the news that a GP has died after contracting swine flu, Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the BMA"s GPs Committee, said:
"Our first thoughts are for Dr Day and his family and for all other victims of swine flu.
"While these individual deaths are tragedies for the families concerned it is very important that members of the public do not panic, and continue to follow health advice about swine flu and managing it if they are infected.
"Doctors have always accepted that there are risks associated with their job. Obviously these are smaller than they used to be with the advent of modern medicine, but they can never be eliminated altogether.
"It is understandable that people will be worried when they hear that a GP has died but we urge them to follow the recommended advice and contact their family doctor, rather than physically going to the surgery if they have symptoms. The vast majority of people will recover quickly by taking paracetamol or ibuprofen, and drinking plenty of fluids. Anyone who is not recovering quickly should get extra advice as a small number will need more intensive treatment.
"We must remember that every year there are deaths from complications of seasonal flu; this is unfortunately inevitable with any strain of influenza."
British Medical Association