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| Serving Callaway County communities since 1875. | www.fultonsun.com | Saturday, March 20, 2010 |
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Swine flu case in New Bloomfield By DON NORFLEET The Fulton Sun
Callaway County Health Administrator Sharon Lynch said the individuals have been advised to remain home for seven days, or 24 hours after the symptoms are resolved, whichever is longer. Lynch said there is no reason for people to become overly concerned because the H1N1 influenza symptoms have been mild and similar to that of seasonal flu. Lynch said because of privacy issues the names of the patients will not be disclosed. Lynch said most testing for this novel strain of the swine flu has been suspended across the nation. However, the Callaway Community Hospital has been designated as a sentinel surveillance site for the state of Missouri and is continuing to test for the flu, other viruses and diseases on a regular basis. From 75 to 100 such sites are continuing to operate throughout Missouri to help detect any type of virus outbreaks. These sites report symptoms on a regular basis to the Bio-Terrorism Surveillance Team in Jefferson City. The system is in place to alert public health officials of possible public health threats and outbreaks. "We are working with the local hospital, doctors offices and pharmacies as well as other state and local agencies," Lynch said. "We have plans in place to identify and help control the spread of this and other diseases." Lynch said anyone with influenza-like illness should practice the same disease prevention methods used during seasonal flu, including: Stay home and do not attend school or go into the community except to seek medical care for at least seven days, or 24 hours after symptoms resolve, whichever is longer. "Everyone should always follow sanitary measures to reduce the spread of influenza, including covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. They should cough or sneeze into a sleeve if a tissue isn't available," Lynch said. She said frequent washing of hands with soap and water is recommended or the use of hand sanitizers if hand washing is not possible. People wanting to avoid the flu should try to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth because germs spread this way. They also should try to avoid close contact with sick people. Current CDC guidance does not advise school closures, during regular or summer sessions, for a suspected or confirmed case of H1N1 influenza. In general, it is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school's ability to function. "Summer school sessions should not be impacted unless we start receiving significantly large numbers of individuals that are symptomatic," Lynch said. Missouri health officials will be using the summer to prepare for the swine flu during a flu season that starts Oct. 1. There have been 50 confirmed cases of swine flu in Missouri and one death linked to the virus. State health director Margaret Donnelly said the department has been trying to limit its spread since April. The World Health Organization declared Thursday that swine flu is a global pandemic and becoming the dominant flu strain in the southern hemisphere, which currently is going through its flu season. Researchers are working on a vaccine to combat the virus for this fall and winter in the United States. |
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