Got the flu? Toot three times
New Zealand health officials have told people who suspect they may have swine flu to sound their car horn outside a doctor’s clinic three times and wait for help, a New Zealand newspaper has reported.
The ‘toot three times’ policy outlined in a flu management protocol would give doctors or nurses time to protect themselves before escorting patients into isolation, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The suggestion appears to conflict with instructions to pharmacies, who have been allowed to sell the Tamiflu antiviral medicine without a doctor’s prescription, but only to people who apply personally and show obvious flu-like symptoms.
The health ministry earlier said New Zealand has four confirmed cases of swine flu, with 13 probable cases that have tested positive for the influenza A strain associated with H1N1.
