Leaving the UK I expected to be vigorously screened for symptoms of infection with swine flu before being allowed on a ship carrying some three thousand airconditioned souls. Sum total of the screening was a self declaration of two questions whether or not I had symptoms of illness of any form ... no infra red thermography or full medical examination. So be it, at least it speeded up the embarkation process in the rain at Southampton.

I'm now five days into the voyage around the Med, leaving the wet and windy weather behind in the Bay of Biscay, there are no signs of panic either on board or in either of the two ports in Spain that we have docked. The ship is aware of the importance of hand hygiene with alcohol gel dispensers everywhere where there is food served, but my suspicion is that this is more to prevent norovirus rather than anything to do with influenza.

While a member of staff assured me that they have contigency plans in case of widespread influenza, there are no information leaflets in the cabins advising passengers what to do if they believe that they are suffering symptoms.

While I understand that cruise companies don't want their passengers believing that the ship might become a "war zone" in the event of an outbreak of disease, I feel that there would be little harm in discouraging those developing influenza from spreading it to everyone else.

Similarly on land - no evidence of warnings in the same way that airports in the UK are advising incoming travellers... perhaps the Spanish feel that they have had enough of influenza since the worldwide pandemic in 1917 which was labelled as "Spanish flu" even though it probably started in France or Belgium.

News from home indicates that the Government has decided to complicate the process of issuing prescriptions by doctors for the antivirals... rather than use the tried and tested "FP10" prescriptions we use for everything else, they have issued all surgeries with triplicated (no doubt expensive) non-computer compatible forms to be completed. More work at a time when less is required.

Off to France and Italy soon... no doubt precautions against importing swine flu will be even fewer than in Spain.

Thought I would start a collection of swine flu jokes... feel free to send them by comment to this blog.

Ps: Very hot and sunny ! Sorry