Health officials in the UK are looking into a new type of swine flu. They found this infection when they were doing a regular test for the flu at a doctor’s office in North Yorkshire. The person who got sick had problems with their breathing, but they are all better now. They didn’t have any contact with pigs, so the officials are trying to figure out how they got the infection and if it’s dangerous for people. There have been other cases of swine flu in humans before, with 50 cases happening around the world in the last 20 years. This new strain is a bit different from recent cases, but it’s similar to viruses found in pigs in the UK.

In 2009, there was a big outbreak of swine flu that affected pigs, birds, and people. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is going to keep a closer eye on doctor’s offices and hospitals in North Yorkshire. They are also trying to find the people who were in close contact with the person who got sick, so they can stop the infection from spreading. The Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins, believes in the UKHSA’s plan to test and watch for the flu and wants the public to trust them too.

If you have flu-like symptoms, it’s best to stay away from other people, especially if they are old or have health problems. The Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, says it’s really important to take good care of animals and make sure they are healthy and safe. This way, we can stop diseases from spreading from animals to people. If you have pigs, you should tell your local vet if you see any signs of swine flu in your herd.

The experts say that this new strain of swine flu isn’t worse than other types of the flu. They think that this one case isn’t a big deal and it’s similar to what has happened before. The person who got sick didn’t have a bad case of it, which is what usually happens. So, we don’t need to worry too much right now.

Original news source: Swine flu: UK detects first human case of new strain (BBC)

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs, students will read the article and summarize the main points in their own words. They will then share their summaries with the class, discussing any differences or similarities in their understanding of the article.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Students will form groups and discuss their opinions on the topic of swine flu and its potential dangers. They will then create an opinion poll with questions such as “Do you think the new strain of swine flu is a cause for concern?” or “Do you believe the government is taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of swine flu?”. Each group will then conduct the poll with other students in the class, tally the results, and present their findings to the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team will take turns selecting a vocabulary word from the article and drawing a picture to represent it. The opposing team must guess the word within a certain time limit. This activity will help students reinforce their understanding of key vocabulary from the article.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. Set a timer for 2 minutes. Students must read the article and write a summary in their own words within the time limit. After the timer goes off, students will pair up and share their summaries with each other, discussing any differences or similarities in their understanding. This activity will help students practice their reading comprehension and summarization skills.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Students will individually think about and write down their thoughts on the following question: “What measures do you think should be taken to prevent the spread of swine flu?” After a few minutes, students will pair up and share their ideas with each other. Finally, pairs will join another pair to form a group of four, where they will share their ideas and discuss as a larger group. This activity encourages critical thinking and collaborative discussion.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What type of flu are health officials in the UK investigating?
2. How did health officials discover this new type of swine flu?
3. Why are health officials trying to figure out how the person got infected?
4. How many cases of swine flu in humans have occurred worldwide in the last 20 years?
5. What actions will the UK Health Security Agency take in response to this new case?
6. Who is Victoria Atkins and what is her opinion on the UKHSA’s plan?
7. What advice does the Chief Veterinary Officer give regarding animals and diseases?
8. According to the experts, is this new strain of swine flu more dangerous than other types of the flu?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Health officials in the UK are (1)______ into a new type of (2)______ flu. They found this infection when they were doing a (3)______ test for the flu at a doctor’s office in North Yorkshire. The person who got sick had problems with their breathing, but they are all better now. They didn’t have any contact with pigs, so the officials are trying to figure out how they got the infection and if it’s (4)______ for people. There have been other cases of swine flu in humans before, with 50 cases happening around the world in the last 20 (5)______. This new (6)______ is a bit different from recent cases, but it’s similar to viruses found in pigs in the UK.

In 2009, there was a big (7)______ of swine flu that affected pigs, birds, and people. The UK Health (8)______ Agency (UKHSA) is going to keep a closer eye on doctor’s offices and hospitals in North Yorkshire. They are also trying to find the people who were in close contact with the person who got sick, so they can stop the infection from spreading. The Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins, believes in the UKHSA’s plan to test and watch for the flu and wants the (9)______ to trust them too.

If you have flu-like symptoms, it’s best to stay away from other people, especially if they are old or have health problems. The (10)______ Veterinary (11)______, (12)______ Middlemiss, says it’s really important to take good care of animals and make sure they are healthy and safe. This way, we can stop diseases from spreading from animals to people. If you have pigs, you should tell your (13)______ vet if you see any (14)______ of swine flu in your herd.

The (15)______ say that this new strain of swine flu isn’t worse than other (16)______ of the flu. They think that this one case isn’t a big deal and it’s similar to what has happened before. The person who got sick didn’t have a bad case of it, which is what usually happens. So, we don’t need to worry too much right now.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is swine flu and how is it different from other types of flu?
2. How would you feel if you found out there was a new type of swine flu in your country?
3. Do you think it’s important for health officials to investigate and understand new strains of flu? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever had the flu? What was it like?
5. How would you react if you found out someone you know had swine flu?
6. Do you like pigs? Why or why not?
7. What do you think is the best way to prevent the spread of diseases from animals to humans?
8. How do you feel about the UKHSA’s plan to test and watch for the flu? Do you trust them? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever had to stay away from other people because you were sick? How did you feel?
10. Do you think it’s important to take good care of animals? Why or why not?
11. Do you have any pets? How do you make sure they stay healthy?
12. How do you think diseases can spread from animals to humans?
13. Do you worry about getting sick from new strains of flu? Why or why not?
14. Have you ever known someone who had a bad case of the flu? How did they recover?
15. How do you think health officials can effectively communicate and reassure the public during outbreaks of flu?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. swine
2. infection
3. breathing
4. pigs
5. strain
6. outbreak
7. symptoms
8. worry

Meanings:
(a) Animals that are similar to domesticated pigs
(b) Feeling anxious or concerned about something
(c) A particular type or variation of a virus
(d) A type of flu that affects pigs
(e) The act of taking in and letting out air
(f) The spread of harmful germs in the body
(g) A sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease
(h) Signs that indicate a person is sick
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How did health officials in the UK discover the new type of swine flu?
(a) During a routine check at a hospital in London
(b) During a research study on pigs in Scotland
(c) During a vaccination campaign in Wales
(d) During a regular flu test at a doctor’s office in North Yorkshire

2. What symptoms did the person with the new swine flu infection have?
(a) High fever and cough
(b) Problems with breathing
(c) Sore throat and runny nose
(d) Headache and body aches

3. How did the person with the new swine flu infection most likely get infected?
(a) From contact with pigs
(b) It is still unknown
(c) From contact with birds
(d) From contact with other sick people

4. How many cases of swine flu in humans have occurred worldwide in the last 20 years?
(a) 100
(b) 200
(c) 500
(d) 50

5. What measures will the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) take to prevent the spread of the new swine flu?
(a) Keep a closer eye on doctor’s offices and hospitals in North Yorkshire
(b) Close all doctor’s offices and hospitals in North Yorkshire
(c) Vaccinate all pigs in the UK
(d) Quarantine all people in North Yorkshire

6. Who supports the UKHSA’s plan to test and watch for the flu?
(a) The Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss
(b) The Prime Minister of the UK
(c) The Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins
(d) The World Health Organization

7. What should you do if you have flu-like symptoms?
(a) Stay away from other people, especially if they are old or have health problems
(b) Go to work or school as usual
(c) Visit a crowded place to spread the infection
(d) Share food and drinks with others

8. How does taking care of animals help prevent the spread of diseases to humans?
(a) It makes animals immune to all types of flu
(b) It helps animals recover quickly from swine flu
(c) It stops diseases from spreading from animals to people
(d) It allows animals to be used for medical research

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. The person who contracted the new swine flu did not have breathing problems and has not since recovered.
2. The UK Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins, supports the UKHSA’s plan to test and monitor for the flu and urges the public to have faith in their efforts.
3. The infected person did not have any contact with pigs, so officials are investigating how they got the infection and whether it poses a danger to others.
4. Health officials in the UK have discovered a new type of swine flu during a routine flu test at a doctor’s office in North Yorkshire.
5. It is unimportant to take precautions if experiencing flu-like symptoms, experts believe that this new strain of swine flu is more severe than other types of the flu and the current case is a major cause for concern.
6. Following the 2009 swine flu outbreak that affected pigs, birds, and humans, the UK Health Security Agency will not closely monitor doctor’s offices and hospitals in North Yorkshire.
7. Efforts are not being made to identify and isolate individuals who had close contact with the infected person to prevent further spread of the infection.
8. In the past 20 years, there have been 50 cases of swine flu in humans worldwide, but this new strain is slightly different from previous cases and resembles viruses found in UK pigs.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What did health officials in the UK find during a regular flu test?
2. How did the person who got sick with swine flu in North Yorkshire catch the infection?
3. What measures is the UK Health Security Agency taking to prevent the spread of the swine flu infection?
4. According to the Chief Veterinary Officer, why is it important to take care of animals?
5. How do experts feel about the new strain of swine flu and the recent case in North Yorkshire?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What type of flu are health officials in the UK investigating?
Health officials in the UK are investigating a new type of swine flu.

2. How did health officials discover this new type of swine flu?
Health officials discovered this new type of swine flu during a regular flu test at a doctor’s office in North Yorkshire.

3. Why are health officials trying to figure out how the person got infected?
Health officials are trying to figure out how the person got infected to understand how the virus spreads and if it poses a danger to others.

4. How many cases of swine flu in humans have occurred worldwide in the last 20 years?
There have been 50 cases of swine flu in humans worldwide in the last 20 years.

5. What actions will the UK Health Security Agency take in response to this new case?
The UK Health Security Agency will keep a closer eye on doctor’s offices and hospitals in North Yorkshire and try to find and monitor people who were in close contact with the infected person.

6. Who is Victoria Atkins and what is her opinion on the UKHSA’s plan?
Victoria Atkins is the Health Secretary. She supports the UKHSA’s plan to test and monitor for the flu and wants the public to trust them as well.

7. What advice does the Chief Veterinary Officer give regarding animals and diseases?
The Chief Veterinary Officer advises taking good care of animals, ensuring their health and safety, to prevent diseases from spreading from animals to people.

8. According to the experts, is this new strain of swine flu more dangerous than other types of the flu?
According to the experts, this new strain of swine flu is not believed to be more dangerous than other types of the flu.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) looking
(2) swine
(3) regular
(4) dangerous
(5) years
(6) strain
(7) outbreak
(8) Security
(9) public
(10) Chief
(11) Officer
(12) Christine
(13) local
(14) signs
(15) experts
(16) types
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. swine
Answer: (d) A type of flu that affects pigs

2. infection
Answer: (f) The spread of harmful germs in the body

3. breathing
Answer: (e) The act of taking in and letting out air

4. pigs
Answer: (a) Animals that are similar to domesticated pigs

5. strain
Answer: (c) A particular type or variation of a virus

6. outbreak
Answer: (g) A sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease

7. symptoms
Answer: (h) Signs that indicate a person is sick

8. worry
Answer: (b) Feeling anxious or concerned about something
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How did health officials in the UK discover the new type of swine flu?
Answer: (d) During a regular flu test at a doctor’s office in North Yorkshire

2. What symptoms did the person with the new swine flu infection have?
Answer: (b) Problems with breathing

3. How did the person with the new swine flu infection most likely get infected?
Answer: (b) It is still unknown

4. How many cases of swine flu in humans have occurred worldwide in the last 20 years?
Answer: (d) 50

5. What measures will the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) take to prevent the spread of the new swine flu?
Answer: (a) Keep a closer eye on doctor’s offices and hospitals in North Yorkshire

6. Who supports the UKHSA’s plan to test and watch for the flu?
Answer: (c) The Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins

7. What should you do if you have flu-like symptoms?
Answer: (a) Stay away from other people, especially if they are old or have health problems

8. How does taking care of animals help prevent the spread of diseases to humans?
Answer: (c) It stops diseases from spreading from animals to people
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. The person who contracted the new swine flu did not have breathing problems and has not since recovered. (Answer: False)
2. The UK Health Secretary, Victoria Atkins, supports the UKHSA’s plan to test and monitor for the flu and urges the public to have faith in their efforts. (Answer: True)
3. The infected person did not have any contact with pigs, so officials are investigating how they got the infection and whether it poses a danger to others. (Answer: True)
4. Health officials in the UK have discovered a new type of swine flu during a routine flu test at a doctor’s office in North Yorkshire. (Answer: True)
5. It is unimportant to take precautions if experiencing flu-like symptoms, experts believe that this new strain of swine flu is more severe than other types of the flu and the current case is a major cause for concern. (Answer: False)
6. Following the 2009 swine flu outbreak that affected pigs, birds, and humans, the UK Health Security Agency will not closely monitor doctor’s offices and hospitals in North Yorkshire. (Answer: False)
7. Efforts are not being made to identify and isolate individuals who had close contact with the infected person to prevent further spread of the infection. (Answer: False)
8. In the past 20 years, there have been 50 cases of swine flu in humans worldwide, but this new strain is slightly different from previous cases and resembles viruses found in UK pigs. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧