The scare: Swine flu

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PRINCETON — Local health officials are carefully following the news about the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the United States.

On Wednesday, Diana Rawlings, administrator of the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department, issued a statement addressing the swine flu outbreak and what local residents need to do to protect themselves from the illness.

“I would like to assure the citizens of our counties that we are in close communication with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor the recent swine flu outbreak in the United States and Mexico,” Rawlings said. “At this time there are no known cases in Bureau County or Putnam County. However, we are urging all residents to take preventative measures.”

On Wednesday, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the United States had seen its first death from swine flu, a 23-month-old girl from Mexico who died earlier this week in a Houston hospital. The girl became ill more than two weeks ago while visiting relatives in Brownsville, Texas. She is believed to be the first person to die from swine flu outside of Mexico.

To date, the CDC has confirmed 64 cases of swine flu in five states, including California, Kansas, Ohio, Texas and New York City. The CDC has issued a travel warning recommending people avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico.

According to information from the CDC, swine flu is a respiratory disease common to pigs caused by type A influenza viruses. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. No reason was given for the recent increased swine flu activity.

Rawlings said the spread of swine flu is thought to happen in the same way that seasonal flu spreads, mainly from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected persons. People may also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to symptoms of seasonal flu or other viral infections, Rawlings said. Those symptoms include a fever of 100°F or higher, plus a cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, chills, headache body aches, fatigue or difficulty breathing. In addition some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting, Rawlings said.

“If you have recently traveled to Mexico or feel you have been exposed and are showing these symptoms you should stay home and call your medical provider for guidance,” Rawlings said. “There are plenty of anti-viral medicines which a doctor can prescribe.”

Bureau County residents can take some basic good-health precautions to protect themselves from swine flu, Rawlings said.

Those precautions are:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you do not have a tissue cough or sneeze into your shirt sleeve.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol -based hand cleansers are also effective when soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

• Avoid close contact with sick people. Influenza is thought to be transmitted mainly person to person through coughing and sneezing of infected people.

• If you are sick stay home from work or school and limit contact with others.

Rawlings said regular updates on the swine flu outbreak are available through the CDC Web site, www.cdc.gov. Also, the local health department will continue to work with Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC to keep area residents informed about the swine flu outbreak, she said.

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