First Cases Confirmed in Baltimore

[thebes]

http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=27923&zoneid=3

Multiple Cases Of Swine Flu Reported In City
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Scott Wykoff


The Baltimore City Health Department has received notice of three confirmed cases of swine flu in Baltimore City.None of the three affected individuals were school-age children.

One of the cases is currently hospitalized. Due to confidentiality considerations, no further information about the patients will be released.

There are now 46 confirmed cases reported in Maryland, according to state officials.

There have been no deaths in Maryland.

?We continue to closely monitor these cases and the spread of H1N1 flu here in the city,? said Interim Commissioner Farrow. ?The outbreak of H1N1 in Maryland continues to involve generally mild symptoms similar to ordinary seasonal flu.?



The Health Department says it is working closely with the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and with each City agency, area hospitals and health care providers to carry out a coordinated and comprehensive H1N1 flu plan.



Here is a statement from Mayor Sheila Dixon about confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu in Baltimore City.

"At briefings today, I was assured by Health Department officials that recently confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Baltimore City are being monitored closely. I want to reiterate to the public that these were 3 adult cases and do not involve any school-age children.

When the first reports of H1N1 flu surfaced in April, the Health Department immediately activated plans to address the H1N1 flu situation in Baltimore City. Since then we have seen this novel strain is currently acting much more like a seasonal flu.

I urge city residents to do their part to stop the spread of this illness by washing their hands frequently, practicing good cough hygiene and staying home if flu-like symptoms do develop."

[FrenchieGirl]

Re: First Cases Confirmed in Baltimore

33 Babies Possibly Exposed To Swine Flu

Staff Member Exposed To H1N1 By Another Patient

UPDATED: 8:32 am EDT June 18, 2009


GREENSBORO, S.C. -- Babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at The Women's Hospital of Greensboro may have been exposed to the H1N1 flu virus, the Moses Cone Health System announced Wednesday afternoon.

Video: Babies Possibly Exposed To Swine Flu

A staff member may have unknowingly exposed the patients, the hospital said, adding that no infants appear to be infected at this point.

The staff member involved in the NICU exposure was exposed while treating a patient for possible asthma. Testing later determined the patient had H1N1. The patient is at Moses Cone Hospital and under strict respiratory precautions, the hospital said.

"The welfare of our patients is our top priority, and we are taking every precaution to ensure it," said Dr. Tim Lane. "We want to emphasize that none of the neonatal patients are showing any symptoms; however, we certainly want to ensure that they are protected."

The hospital said the 33 babies that may have been exposed are being treated with Tamiflu. The hospital is also screening all visitors and employees for signs and symptoms of infection before allowing them into the NICU. All parents, visitors and staff who may have been exposed are also being offered Tamiflu, the hospital said.

There were 125 confirmed cases of H1N1 by the North Carolina Department of Health Wednesday afternoon -- six in Alamance County, three in Guilford County and seven in Rockingham County.

"We are doing everything we can to protect those babies," Lane said.

[Lizw]

Re: First Cases Confirmed in Baltimore

33 Babies Possibly Exposed To Swine Flu

Staff Member Exposed To H1N1 By Another Patient

UPDATED: 8:32 am EDT June 18, 2009


GREENSBORO, S.C. -- Babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at The Women's Hospital of Greensboro may have been exposed to the H1N1 flu virus, the Moses Cone Health System announced Wednesday afternoon.

I'm not sure how it might have happened, but 'GREENSBORO, S.C.' is wrong. It's Greensboro, North Carolina.

Not sure how this relates to the Baltimore thread either.

ETA--never mind, I see how it happened. It's an article from a Baltimore paper about the 33 babies in intensive care, but they aren't in Baltimore, and the article has the state wrong.