T he West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources issued an alert today to local health departments and other health care providers to be on the watch for swine influenza in humans.
The Mineral County Health Department is communicating, through a rapid computerized communication system, with health care providers in the county, school nurses, Potomac State College and others in an attempt to keep them updated on the latest information.
“We started yesterday making a daily call to the state to keep us updated on the situation,” said A. Jay Root of the Mineral County Health Department. “Right now it’s more universal precautions, like telling everyone to wash their hands, cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, things like that.”
While no cases have been identified in West Virginia at this time, 64 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swine flu cases have been confirmed in California, Texas, Kansas, Ohio and New York. As of today, Mexico reports 1,600 confirmed cases with 100 deaths associated with the virus. To date, disease seen in US cases has been less severe than that seen in Mexico.
“In this situation, it’s important to plan forward,” said Cathy Slemp, M.D., M.P.H., acting state health officer and director of the Center for Threat Preparedness. Public health officials worked over the weekend to activate their response plans. “We are tracking the national situation; sharing information with providers, response partners, and the public; and actively looking for swine flu cases here. The public should not be surprised when we find a case,” Slemp said. Guidance to communities when cases appear will be based on the specifics of those early cases and the status of disease spread in the community. “Expect that different locales may need to take different measures based on local conditions. Again, we are fortunate that current disease looks similar to what we see with seasonal flu,” Slemp added.
“If you have symptoms, stay home. Don't go to work; don't go to school,” Root recommends. “Right now we're not getting the effects that they're getting in Mexico.”
Swine flu is not transmitted by food. A person cannot get swine influenza from eating pork products.
The situation is changing rapidly. For current information, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ or the WVBPH website at www.wvidep.org.
Keyser, W.Va. —
