Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Texas SF - April 26 +

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Texas SF - April 26 +

    Web Posted: 04/25/2009 12:38 CDT Swine flu shuts down Steele High




    State health officials have closed Steele High School in Cibolo, where two of eight U.S. cases of swine flu attended classes, to halt the spread of the new swine flu virus.


    A third student has been listed as a probable case. All three suffered mild illness, with the third student still recovering.


    ?The purpose is to reduce the risk to students, staff and the community,? said Dr. Sandra Guerra, regional medical director for the Texas Department of State Health Services.


    It was unclear how long the school might be closed. Saturday morning one official said at least a week, but health officials were conferring throughout the day.


    Health officials also are recommending public gatherings in Guadalupe County be postponed. Bexar County was not included in the recommendations, despite the proximity to San Antonio of the cases.
    Anyone with flu like illness and members of their household should stay home and avoid close contact with others, officials said.


    Guerra said students should avoid contact with one another while school is out, which ?would defeat the purpose? of closing the school to interrupt the spread of the new virus, which has killed as many as 60 people in Mexico and sickened hundreds.


    Extracurricular activities at the school have also been cancelled.



  • #2
    Re: Texas Closes School To Stop Swine Flu Spread

    #1: ...

    Well done. It must be tried anything, at least.

    Now we can see how the previously fiercely reclamized in the estabs paperwork "table" policy of "mantaining schools open" and "mantaining the business during pandemic" were only wishfull thinking.

    As it was digged out from records of some US places during the 1918 pandemic, the ones which instaurate an enaugh strict isolation with quarantines, had much minor looses from the pandemic.

    That's plain logic, that mantaining contacts as chickens in the coops, and without biohazard suites and decont., is giving more live meat to the virus to spread and to change further.

    An strict ducking policy for a month could give some breath time to the production facilities for the new vaccine - if they decided yet to green lighted it (seems that even the actual danger is not enaugh to move the money) ...

    or maybe the reason is waiting for the "perfect pandemic virus".
    But when it starts, the vaccines would remain for the "vaulted folks" only

    Comment


    • #3
      Texas Says Tracks Third Probable Case Of Swine Flu

      Delete Copy
      But Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious. -Poe

      Also known as CRH-land

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Texas Closes School To Stop Swine Flu Spread

        Official announcement - http://www.scuc.txed.net/campuses/St...lease_0425.pdf


        Texas Department of State Health Services
        NEWS RELEASE
        April 25, 2009

        School to Close, Other Flu Precautions Recommended

        The Texas Department of State Health Services announced today that Byron Steele High School
        in Cibolo will temporarily close effective immediately as public health and school officials work to
        keep swine influenza from spreading.

        Swine flu was confirmed earlier this month in two students from the school, and a third student is
        listed as a probable case with confirmatory lab test results pending. The original two have
        recovered, and the third is recovering. The school is part of the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City
        Independent School District in Guadalupe County near San Antonio.

        "The purpose is to reduce the risk to students, staff and the community," said Sandra Guerra,
        M.D., a DSHS regional director and the public health authority for Guadalupe County.

        She also urged students not to be around each other while school is out. "That would defeat the
        purpose," she said. The school's extracurricular activities also will be cancelled.

        DSHS is urging the school?s staff, faculty, students and their household members to avoid contact
        with others, especially if they have symptoms of a respiratory illness.

        Additionally, the following precautions are strongly recommended for all residents of Guadalupe
        County:
        ? Public gatherings should be postponed for the immediate future.
        ? Anyone with symptoms of a respiratory illness, and their household members, should
        stay home and avoid close contact with others.

        Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to those of regular or seasonal flu and include fever,
        fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore
        throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

        Health officials say everyone should follow standard precautions to reduce the spread of any
        respiratory illness.
        ? Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
        ? Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used
        tissues.
        ? Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-
        based hand sanitizer.

        Comment


        • #5
          Texas SF - April 26 +

          3 'probable' swine flu cases found in Dallas County



          06:08 PM CDT on Sunday, April 26, 2009


          By SCOTT GOLDSTEIN and MICHAEL A. LINDENBERGER / The Dallas Morning News
          sgoldstein@dallasnews.com
          mlindenberger@dallasnews.com

          Three Dallas County residents were identified early today as having ?probable? cases of swine flu, health officials said.
          None of the three people ? a 24-year-old, a 7-year-old and a 3-month-old ? has been hospitalized, and the cases do not appear to be related, officials said. It is unclear whether any of the three had traveled to Mexico recently.
          ?We literally found out this information hours ago,? said Dr. John Carlo, the county health department?s medical director. ?They?ve all been very minor.?
          The news came as county officials announced their effort to inform thousands of travelers coming to Dallas from Mexico by bus every day to seek medical attention immediately if they feel sick.
          ?The health department is actively involved in investigating and looking for cases of swine influenza in the Dallas area,? Carlo said.
          The swine flu outbreak began in Mexico, where officials said today as many as 1,400 have been sickened and up to 86 have died.
          ?We want to just tell them about the swine flu and let them know it is spreading from Mexico,? said Jacqueline M. Bell, a spokeswoman for the Dallas County health department. ?We will be recommending that they practice health habits to reduce the chance of spreading the germs.?
          Some of the recommendations:
          ?If you feel sick, stay at home and stay inside
          ?If you are traveling to or from Mexico, pay attention to your health for seven days
          ?If you feel ill, go to the doctor and tell him or her where you have traveled.
          The only other case tied to Dallas is that of a boy who traveled here from San Diego. He was sick before he arrived but only learned he had had the virus after he was in the area. Bell said she believes he has returned home.
          Also on Sunday, the White House announced a public health emergency, a step officials described as a routine measure designed to help ease the distribution of vaccines. Twenty cases of the disease have been confirmed in five states, including two in San Antonio, though no one has died of it here.
          In Mexico, Churches were shut down in Mexico City and soldiers were distributing surgical masks to try to stop the spread of the disease.
          The World Health Organization said the disease has ?pandemic potential? but said it is too soon to know whether it will spread worldwide. It urged other nations to step up monitoring reports of its arrival.
          At least one case has been confirmed in Canada. Other countries, including New Zealand, have said they have had reports of possible cases, not yet confirmed.
          The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has said that 12 human cases of swine flu have been documented in 10 U.S. states between December 2005 and February 2009. But the cases seen since then have been of a new strain, the center said.
          The Associated Press contributed to this report.

          Comment


          • #6
            Flu closes San Antonio school district for a week

            Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/6393782.html

            Flu closes San Antonio school district for a week
            HISD takes a wait-and-see approach
            By ELIZABETH ALLEN
            SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
            April 26, 2009, 7:24PM

            A San Antonio-area school district is closing for at least a week after two students there tested positive for the swine flu.

            About 10 suspected cases are being tested ? all from the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District or those who have come into contact with the infected students. They range in age from 6 to people in their 40s, said Dr. Sandra Guerra, regional medical director for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

            In Houston, officials have yet to find any cases of the disease, said Kathy Barton, spokeswoman for the city health department.

            Local schools will be open as usual.

            ?I?m sure we?re going to be discussing it (Monday) to see what kind of measures we should be involved in,? said Lee Vela, spokesman for the Houston Independent School District. Students who are experiencing flu-like symptoms, including a fever or cough, are advised to stay home, Vela said.

            Linda Moses, of Cibolo, said she?s been sick with vomiting, diahrrea and a cough, and both of her sons have shown flu symptoms as well.

            ?I allowed him to go over and spend time with his grandparents, which I?m a little worried about now, because that?s the last thing they need,? Moses said.

            She said she hasn?t been to a doctor yet, but said with the news of the district-wide closure, she?s planning to see one as soon as possible.

            Schertz has also closed its public library, Guerra said. Cibolo has closed its parks and is asking churches and places where people gather to postpone activities.

            Employees of Bexar County who live in Guadalupe County are being asked to be extra vigilant, and to stay home if they or any family members have flu symptoms.

            That advice goes for the general population, too, said Emily Palmer, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

            ?Our recommendations are that people who are sick stay home,? Palmer said. ?I don?t want to minimize this. We are concerned and we are actively doing surveillance.?

            The state also wants doctors to change their normal approach to possible influenza patients, Guerra said.

            Instead of running their own tests or using private labs, doctors should contact the state or local health district officials and use those labs to test throat cultures, she said.

            She said she expects more Bexar County swine flu cases.

            ?I think we?re prepared for that,? she said.

            Staff writers Don Finley and Lindsay Kastner contributed to this report.

            Comment


            • #7
              Corpus Christi suspected cases announced 042709

              From my town-

              http://www.kristv.com/global/story.asp?s=10260382

              Lab Results Due Back Soon For Possible Swine Flu Victims

              Updated: April 27, 2009 11:08 PM CDT

              Lab Results Due Back Soon For Possible Swine Flu Victims

              CORPUS CHRISTI - Local health officials have said that six Coastal Bend residents could have the flu virus that's suspected of killing at least 149 people in Mexico.

              Lab results expected back in the next 48 hours and that will confirm whether or not the potentially deadly virus has arrived in the Coastal Bend.

              Of the six possible swine flu cases in the area, five are in Nueces County and one is in San Patricio County. The patients range in age from 17 to 58 and they are all now taking the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. They also have been told to stay home from work or school.

              Local officials plan to hold daily briefings to keep the public informed on the number of possible or confirmed cases in the area.

              Dr. William Burgin of the local health department said Monday that local pharmacies have plenty of tamiflu on hand and there's more available after that if needed.

              "We also have a stockpile supply of Tamiflu that's available to us if the president releases it, and it's already pre-positioned. We have, in addition, additional stockpiles that we keep on hand for first responders, and those who are in the health care field, and those who are active in keeping the government functional," Burgin said.

              In addition, the three cases in Guadalupe County were free standing cases, meaning the people involved had not been to Mexico as initially thought.

              He said Corpus Christi's proximity to Mexico would seem to increase the chances of a local case here. However, he also pointed out that there are lots of diseases in Mexico that never make it across the border at all.

              Online Reporter: Bart Bedsole

              MORE SUSPECTED CASES ANNOUNCED 042809

              http://www.kristv.com/global/story.asp?s=10267152

              Nueces County: Now 20 Suspected Cases of Swine Flu

              Updated: April 28, 2009 06:54 PM CDT

              Nueces County: Now 20 Local Suspected Cases Of Swine Flu

              NUECES COUNTY - There has been a rising number of suspected swine flu cases in the Coastal Bend.

              Later Tuesday afternoon, local health officials announced there are now 20 suspected cases of the potentially deadly disease. Officials have given no information on the patients or where they live.

              Six cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Texas, and nationwide, the number of confirmed cases rose to 68 Tuesday.

              Federal health officials are warning that deaths from the disease are likely in the United States.

              In Mexico, the source of the outbreak, 152 people have died, and only 20 of those, however, have been confirmed as resulting from swine flu.

              Now, Nueces County officials said they are taking a common sense approach to the swine flu situation.

              Even though no cases have been confirmed here locally, 20 suspect cases have been sent to Austin and San Antonio for testing. Due to the backlog, it will now take about 72 hours to confirm the results of each test.

              The people who may have swine flu range from school age children to 58-year-olds.

              "We have some that are school age and those are the ones that we are most interested in, from the view point of possible exposure and doing case follow-ups on those classrooms," Dr. William Burgin said.

              KRIS 6 News was told by the county that Driscoll Children's Hospital will be following all of the child cases that are not of school age.

              Also, county health officials are emphasizing to use good hygiene and if that for those who feel sick, don't go to school and don't go to work, or any other crowded area.

              County officials have said that right now, there is no reason to panic. There are no confirmed cases and if the time comes that there is a cause for concern, they will let us know immediately what precautions we need to be taking.

              Online Reporter: Jennifer Bordelon
              Last edited by dwells57; April 28, 2009, 07:07 PM. Reason: additional information

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Texas Suspected Cases April 26 +

                I believe they have closed some schools until 10 May surrounding New Braunfels.
                "The only security we have is our ability to adapt."

                Comment


                • #9
                  Texas SF - First death in USA, 23 mo. Child

                  BBC news24 reports a story from Reuters of the death of a 3 month old baby

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: First death in USA

                    U.S. has first death from swine flu

                    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A government official confirmed the first U.S. death from the new H1N1 swine flu on Wednesday, a 23-month-old child who died in Texas.

                    It is the first death from swine flu reported outside Mexico, the country hardest hit by the influenza outbreak. The official gave no other details on the case. U.S. officials have confirmed 65 cases of swine flu, most of them mild

                    "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: First death in USA

                      US has first death from swine flu -govt official
                      Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:31am EDT

                      WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - A government official confirmed the first U.S. death from the new H1N1 swine flu on Wednesday, a 23-month-old child who died in Texas.

                      It is the first death from swine flu reported outside Mexico, the country hardest hit by the influenza outbreak. The official gave no other details on the case. U.S. officials have confirmed 65 cases of swine flu, most of them mild.





                      Despite this sky news, still tell us we have nothing to worry about.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: First death in USA

                        First U.S. Death From Swine Flu Reported in Texas
                        A 23-Month-Old Child Is Reportedly the First American to Die From Swine Flu


                        A U.S. government official has told Reuters that a 23-month-old child from Texas is the first American to die from the swine flu outbreak. If true, this would be the first death from swine flu reported outside Mexico, the country hardest hit by the influenza outbreak.

                        (snipped)

                        The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic swine flu alert level to phase 5 -- its second-highest level.
                        "The next major advancement in the health of American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for himself"-- John Knowles, Former President of the Rockefeller Foundation

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: First death in USA

                          I just heard on the radio that the death was of a Mexican national and happened in Houston. No citation for this yet.
                          Wotan (pronounced Voton with the ton rhyming with on) - The German Odin, ruler of the Aesir.

                          I am not a doctor, virologist, biologist, etc. I am a layman with a background in the physical sciences.

                          Attempting to blog an nascent pandemic: Diary of a Flu Year

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Texas SF - First death in USA, 23 mo. Child

                            bad continuation

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: First death in USA

                              Originally posted by wotan View Post
                              I just heard on the radio that the death was of a Mexican national and happened in Houston. No citation for this yet.
                              Chronicle just posted it. The toddler was transported to Houston from Brownsville.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X