A COUPLE claim they were treated like 'lepers' after catching swine flu.
Matt Griffiths and Dawn Clarke, from North Reddish, are among a handful of confirmed cases in Greater Manchester - and are believed to be the first in the Stockport area.
They were forced to stay off work and isolate their children but both have now fully recovered after taking antibiotics.
Matt, a 27-year-old machine programmer, said: "Swine flu was bad, but no worse than other things I've had in the past. It's just like a bad case of flu.
"The main problem was the public perception and how people treat you differently. You get treated a bit like a leper."
Matt said the couple's seven-year-old son, Ethan, was taken out of school and given antibiotics as a precaution.
He said he was also concerned for Lauren, his 18-year-old step-daughter, who lives with the couple at their home in Naseby Road.
Matt and Dawn, 37, believe they contracted swine flu during a night out in Manchester on June 12.
Positive
Matt said: "We went out to a bar in Rusholme on the Friday and by Tuesday Dawn started to feel pretty bad. We were given a swab and both came back positive for swine flu.
"I phoned my mum and told her. She said, `Oh my god!' but I calmed her down.
"It's really not that bad. The worst bit was the fever. I woke up and just felt much hotter than normal."
A spokesman for the Health Protection Agency said: "Obviously there are one or two cases where people have been seriously ill with swine flu, but for the vast majority in this country it's a mild illness from which people recover very quickly."
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 8 and replies | View All
drew-peacock, Our House (01/07/2009 at 00:56)
Karen Dillon (01/07/2009 at 15:23)
heatonchapelmum (01/07/2009 at 16:32)
Seems to me that they should count their blessings that they are now over it instead of moaning about their son being kept away from shool. i'm glad he was. That is the ruling until you have been given the all clear you stay in quarantine!!!!
Some people!!!
Betty Swallocks, Reddish (02/07/2009 at 09:38)
Dawn Clarke (02/07/2009 at 14:41)
Dawn Clarke (02/07/2009 at 14:49)
heatonchapelmum (02/07/2009 at 16:16)
People can be a bit like that over chicken pox - it's nothing new.
With all the News & press coverage no wonder people behave like this.
If I'd swine flu I'd be too glad that I'd returned to good health than worry about people avoiding me.
People will point and stare more now that you've been in the press and on television.
Personally, I'd just be happy that I had recovered completely
heatonchapelmum (02/07/2009 at 16:19)
Well said. Thing is there's more whispering, pointing and staring now because they've gone to the media. It would have all blown over by now if they hadn't.