SOUTHAMPTON'S swine flu control room is to close on Friday.

It was set up last May after the first wave of the pandemic and was used as a base for staff to help protect city residents.

A vaccination programme run from the control room will now continue through GP practices across Southampton.

The closure also means the end of a network of "flu friends" who collected and delivered anti-virals to vulnerable individuals who had no relatives or neighbours.

Doctors are still urging vulnerable groups who have previously been offered a swine flu jab to get in contact with their GPs to help protect themselves.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of the flu virus.

For most people swine flu is mild. It comes on quickly and generally lasts for around a week. Victims typically have a fever or a temperature over 100.4F (39C) and two or more of the following symptoms: tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or cough, loss of appetite, aching muscles, diarrhoea and vomiting.