Life carries on, swine flu or not..

SWINE flu is gripping the country and holidaymakers have been warned not to travel if they are showing symptoms. Home secretary Alan Johnson says the crisis is a bigger threat to Britain than terrorism, but the country is “well prepared.”

And while Oldham has so far escaped its full force, doctors have warned it is only a matter of time before it too falls victim to high numbers of victims.

Reporter Marina Berry asked people in Uppermill their thoughts — and found it is very much business as usual.

Dorothy Jones, of Uppermill, remains defiant in the face of the bug sweeping the country.

She said: “I’m not worried about going out and it won’t stop me doing anything.

“If I get it I will deal with it, and if I thought I was coming down with it I would stay in so as not to pass it on to other people, and I wouldn’t bother the doctor with it.”

She added: “It’s something everyone should be aware of, but I’m not sure I would know early on anyway, because I have hayfever and might confuse the symptoms.”

Greenfield mother Sarah West, said she was worried about swine flu but was taking precautions to protect her family against an outbreak. She said her children, three-year-old Zack and Alex (1) were still going to pre-school and tots groups.

And she echoed the concern of many of those interviewed that people often got coughs and colds —particularly children — and how would it be possible to tell at an early, contagious stage, if it was the more serious swine flu.

Teacher Tim Roach said: “There have been scares like this before — look at bird flu.

“My view is if you catch it it’s just one of those things, and it shouldn’t stop people going out and doing what they normally do.”

The father of two-year-old Seth, Mr Roach, of Uppermill, has just left Chadderton’s Christ Church School and is due to start work at Burnley Brow School, Chadderton.

He said: “I work in schools and Seth goes to nursery so we can’t stay away from people anyway.

“There is enough in the papers about drugs available for people who get swine flu, and it seems the people who have died were poorly to begin with.”

Uppermill man Paul Fletcher said: “I couldn’t care less about it. If you ask me, it’s just a cover-up for the politicians expenses and I don’t think it’s as bad as they are making out.”

Janet Smethurst was looking after her three-year-old granddaughter Kay Yates for the day after her family took the decision to keep her out of nursery for fear of her catching swine flu.

“I’m worried because of all the hype there has been, and we are not taking any chances with Katy. I have just been out to buy some alcohol handrub like they use in hospitals,” said Mrs Smethurst.

“I have chronic asthma so what happens if I get it, or my dad gets it, and how many people will just have a bad cold and think it’s swine flu?”

Donald and Mavis Smith say the outbreak will not stop their daily routine.

Mrs Swift (78) said of the Government’s efforts: “I suppose they are doing their best.

“We will have flu jabs and if we get it we will phone the doctor for some advice.

“When you are older you just take it as it comes and carry on as normal.”