SWINE FLU: County officials prepare for worst

By Dana Cole
Wick News Service
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 4:05 PM MDT


A unique strain of swine flu, suspected of killing dozens of people in Mexico, has health officials bracing for a pandemic.


Vaira Harik, director of Cochise County Health Department, says the Centers for Disease Control and Protection has sent out a health advisory alert and is issuing a familiar list of precautionary measures. “Protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, avoid touching your face and stay home if you’re sick,” the director warns.

Based on the latest reports, swine flu cases in the U.S. have reached 40 and Mexico’s toll of flu-related deaths has climbed to 149. To date, there have been no deaths from swine flu in this country. While there have been no reported cases of the illness in Arizona, health officials are recommending that nonessential travel to Mexico be avoided.

Ann Kuhl, infection control supervisor for Sierra Vista Regional Health Center, says the CDC and World Health Organization, or WHO, have been bracing for a pandemic for a few years now.

A pandemic is an unexpected outbreak of disease that spreads from person to person and is carried across borders, Kuhl said. It’s important for the public to understand, Kuhl added, that this outbreak is not a pandemic.

“But because of how this particular strain of influenza has developed, there are concerns it could become a pandemic.”

Currently, there is no vaccine available for swine flu. However, the strain is susceptible to anti-viral medication, said Kuhl. “If a person is determined to have this flu and is treated early in the course of the illness, the anti-viral medication can decrease its duration and severity.”

While it’s important to been seen by health care providers when flu symptoms develop, Kuhl says there is a huge difference between minor cold symptoms and what health care professionals are describing as influenza. Those with swine flu typically have any combination of the following symptoms: fever; cough; sore throat; stuffy nose; chills; headache and body aches; and fatigue.

Production of influenza vaccine for seasonal outbreaks, which U.S. health officials have said is ineffective against this latest strain of swine flu, will continue. The World Health Organization is working with partners to facilitate a swine-flu vaccine, and would help produce such a vaccine if the current outbreak becomes a pandemic.

For information about swine flu, visit the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov, or go to WHO at www.who.org.

 

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Jay wrote on May 16, 2009 4:57 PM:

    " ummmm....shut-up people "

    disgusted wrote on May 5, 2009 10:06 PM:

    " " If people were more educated there would'nt be so much drama. I was at the hospital with my mother who WAS severly ill not with flu like symptoms but who had a heart attack on Tuesdayat 4:00 I was sitting in the waiting room and only heard people there complaing about the wait time People don't you read the newspaer or watch the T.V. obviously not the statments are STAY HOME.I felt bad for the young lady at window having to answer ALL those RUDE people She only said more than a dozen times as soon as theres a bed she would take them back one lady went as far as calling her a lier and the poor young lady only apologized to that idiot. and as for Sonora A.P. there has been NOOOOOOOOOOO cases yet no not 4 get your facts straight. People need to have a drink a RELAX if you get swine well your gonna have another case of the BAD flu. No antibiotics are gonna help its a VIRUS. Read alittle more often and become alittle more educated, and stop waisting resources for those who REALLY NEED IT!!!!! "

    Leroy wrote on May 5, 2009 6:00 PM:

    " Once again, we all could see, except for DUSD they have the blind eye.
    Our schools are sub-standard, ESL is a joke. Take a head count of all those kids crossing the border, even today, I saw one crossing with a dust mask on, what does that tell you! "

    Tax payer 2 wrote on May 3, 2009 10:42 PM:

    " Hopefully nobody comes down with this virus in DUSD, but if they do I hope the DUSD administration and this worthless city government is held accountable for allowing all the non tax paying, non U.S. Citizen kids that come from AP to schools in Douglas. If it does happen I guarantee you that the administration and gov. officials will cover it up and claim it came from someone already in the U.S. I am glad I do'nt have any kids but when I do they definitely will not go to any school here. I will drive them to Bisbee if I have to. "

    Wesley wrote on May 3, 2009 10:30 PM:

    " Yet our worthless government officials still refuse to close the border with mexico. The death of any U.S. Citizen will be in their hands. Yes the virus is already here in the United States but I am sure it going to get worst than what it would be with all the infected mexicans coming to the U.S. for the free medical care and will infect manty U.S. Citizens in the process. If the president feels its no big deal maybe he should take his family on a trip to mexico city and let them hang out. "

    Concerned Tax Payer wrote on May 2, 2009 6:34 PM:

    " I totally agree with the comment about Douglas residents being in second place. I am a Mexican-American who is very upset over the lack of seriousness given to this issue. Yes Mexico has closed its schools...so WHAT!!! A lot of them come here to school!! Sometimes in the morning you see the kids crossing the border to come to school. What about the people going to McDonalds crossing the border to work here. What about the guys crossing the border early morning to work at the Prison???? The reason Mexico has seen a decrease in this disease it's because they've taken appropriate measures!! CLOSE THE SCHOOLS!!!!! This idea of re-directing the schools and so forth came due to the high number of kids that are coming from Mexico. Look at the High School it's full with kids from across the border!! I am not tying to be rude or anything in that manner but I have 2 kids in the Douglas School District. When it's affecting my kids and so forth, I DO HAVE A PROBLEM!!! I did not approve and WILL NOT APPROVE of RE-DIRECTING the schools. Do you want to solve this overpopulation and prevent this virus from making a case here in Douglas?? Well close the darn schools!! Regarding the overpopulation look and investigate how many kids are US citizens and actually live here and how most are not but still come here!!!!! "

    Tax payer..... wrote on Apr 29, 2009 4:57 PM:

    " Ain't it ironic, that Mexico has taken the appropriate steps in fighting this strand of flu, when we still are sending our children, as well as half of the population of Agua Prieta to our schools. As usual, the citizens of Douglas come second, behind those of Agua Prieta! When is the Douglas Unified School District stepping up to the plate and finally stop the rape and pillage of our kid's education? Come on. You mean to tell me, that every student that attends our schools are US citizens? How many of you principals are looking away? Oh yeah, I forgot, the more students in my school, the more money I receive. All of you should be held and thrown in jail for fraud! It's about time KVOA came down and did a story. I'm sure the DUSD will step up and say, that every student is a born citizen, but reside in Agua Prieta. Right? "

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