Vermont news H1N1

[vt.mathgirl]

Article published May 27, 2009
Vt. Health Dept. confirms 2 more swine flu cases
2:09 p.m.
The Associated Press
BURLINGTON ? The Vermont Health Department says two more cases of swine flu have been confirmed by the state laboratory.

One involved a Chittenden County resident; the other was an out-of-state resident visiting Chittenden County. Both people are recovering at home.

Vermont Health Commissioner Dr. Wendy Davis says that under reporting rules, flu cases are attributed to the patient?s home state, not where the illness is discovered. So, Vermont has now confirmed three cases. The other two were in Orleans County and Windsor County.

Nationwide, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 7,927 probable and confirmed cases of the novel H1N1 flu and 11 deaths. Worldwide, there have been about 13,000 cases and 95 deaths.

[vt.mathgirl]

Re: Vermont news

Article published May 29, 2009
Rutland High student diagnosed with swine flu
Updated at 3 p.m.
Staff Report
Two new cases of Novel H1N1 flu confirmed in Rutland and Franklin County students including a case at Rutland High School.

The other confirmed case is a student at Mississquoi Valley Union Middle/High School.

Both students are recovering well at home and were not hospitalized.

The Health Department is working with the schools and parents are being notified.

A school official said by e-mail that an alert will be sent to students and staff.

Part of the text from the alert points out that the student had been out of state and had not been back in school since returning and becoming symptomatic. Also, the student has no siblings in any other schools.

The two students -- the first nonadults cases in Vermont -- brings the number of confirmed cases in Vermont to five in five different counties.

?We?re asking schools and parents to watch closely for signs of illness and to keep students at home if they are sick,? said Health Commissioner Wendy Davis. ?If we see a number of absences or illnesses, one possible action we would consider is closing school, but it?s not warranted at this time. The two students who have the flu are doing the right thing by staying home for at least seven days and getting well.?

The new H1N1 flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal flu viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus.

In neighboring states such as New York and Massachusetts, the virus has spread among groups of students and some affected schools were closed to try to limit spread of the flu.

If you?re sick with flu-like symptoms (sore throat, bad cough, body aches or chills, fever of 100 degrees or more, extreme fatigue, sometimes vomiting or diarrhea), stay home from work or school for seven days or until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away, whichever is longer.

Most people who are sick with flu will not need to see a health care provider and can be cared for at home. If the ill person has underlying medical conditions, or is having trouble breathing or feels the illness is getting worse, call a health care provider.

Vermonters are urged to continue to take simple precautions every day, and to teach children to do the same:


Cover your mouth and nose every time you cough or sneeze.

Use a tissue when possible and throw it in the trash after use.

Wash hands often and well ? wash for as long as it takes to
sing the ?ABC? song.

Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is also effective.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

For more information log on to www.healthvermont.gov or dial 2-1-1.