All eyes may be on Mexico but I am more worried about my patch – a quiet market town where, on Monday morning, one of the partners at my practice answered a call from a patient concerned that her daughter may have “swine flu”.

The family – Mum, Dad and 15-year-old daughter – had just returned from a cruise along the Pacific coast of Mexico. Dad had been ill on the trip, Mum was feeling under the weather and their daughter had developed a flu-like illness on Sunday. One of the partners at the practice was dispatched wearing a surgical mask, latex gloves and a plastic apron to take samples and dispense the Tamiflu. The family were quarantined in their home while they waited for the results the following day. They were negative.

It’s a scenario that is likely to have been replicated across the country. But while there has been an increase in calls, there is no evidence of any panic. And nor should there be.

The only sign of anxiety has been a couple of calls, and four e-mails requesting Tamiflu from patients trying to amass stocks at home. None had any reason to be anxious and I refused them all. Tamiflu needs to be used in a logical manner, not swallowed at random at the first sign of a sniff or cough.

Advice to keep calm and carry on may seem patronising, but in this case it’s the best course of action.

Explore Health

• Expert Advice

• Health Features

• Mental Health

• Alternative Medicine

• Child Health

• Health Club