Wyoming - 158 (8/19) cases - 1 death

[FrenchieGirl]

7 more swine flu cases found in Wyoming

All of them - now numbering 9 - are in Laramie County

By The Associated Press

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Department of Health confirmed seven more swine flu infections in Laramie County on Friday, bringing the total number of Wyoming cases to nine.

State epidemiologist Dr. Tracy Murphy said the new cases include two adults, two school-age children and three children not old enough to attend kindergarten. The department didn't release the people's specific ages or genders.

"At this time, we don't have any information to suggest they are severely ill or hospitalized," Murphy said.

Wyoming had been one of only three states without swine flu before health department confirmed two cases earlier this week. Those cases were a 13-year-old boy and an adult woman.

All of Wyoming's cases have been in Laramie County, the state's southeastern most county and home to Cheyenne.

Murphy said it's significant that the Laramie County cases include people of different ages.

"We can't rule out that none of them had any contact with each other, but at this time it appears that many of them are unrelated cases," he said.

"That suggests it's not confined to one setting," he said. "It does suggest that there's transmission in many settings in the community, and people need to be aware to take precautions and not assume they're only going to get it in one place."

The World Health Organization reported Friday that its global tally rose to 15,510 swine flu cases in 53 countries, including 99 deaths, most of them in Mexico. In the United States, officials reported 8,975 confirmed cases Friday and 17 deaths.

Mary Quast, community relations director for Laramie County School District 1, said letters were sent to parents this week saying the district is working closely with state and local health departments in monitoring the swine flu situation.

Quast said the district had no immediate plans to close schools. The school year ends June 5.

"With the new cases, we've just heightened our surveillance and will be checking attendance daily, watching for ill children," Quast said.

The symptoms of swine flu illness in the United States have been similar to seasonal flu, the health department said. Those symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Wyoming - confirmed cases - 80 (6/29)

Swine Influenza (H1N1) Cases in Wyoming: 80 lab-confirmed cases (6/29/2009)
County...... Positive H1N1

Campbell.........1

Fremont...........2

Johnson ......... 1

Laramie......... 53

Lincoln............ 7

Natrona........... 2

Sweetwater.....12

Uinta.............. 2

Total............80


This count reflects cases confirmed by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory. WDH expects the number of actual infections around the state to be higher because many ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested specifically for the swine flu strain.

http://wdh.state.wy.us/phsd/epiid/swineflu.html

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Wyoming - confirmed cases - 81 (7/2)

Wyoming Swine Flu Case Count Updated
7/2/2009

Eighty-one cases of laboratory-confirmed swine flu (novel H1N1) virus have been identified in Wyoming residents to date, including one hospitalization. The hospitalized patient, a female adult Lincoln County resident with underlying health conditions, has been released and is recovering.

Of the lab-confirmed infections, 53 are from Laramie County, 12 are from Sweetwater County, eight are from Lincoln County, there are two each from Fremont, Natrona and Uinta counties, and there have been one each from Campbell and Johnson counties.

Counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory or another state lab. The department expects the number of actual infections around the state to be higher because many ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested specifically for the swine flu strain.

(snipped)

http://www.health.wyo.gov./news.aspx?NewsID=302

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Wyoming - confirmed cases - 94 (7/6)

Confirmed swine flu cases hits 94 in Wyoming

Associated Press - July 6, 2009 3:25 PM ET

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The Wyoming Department of Health reports that swine flu has now spread to at least 10 of Wyoming's 23 counties.

The department on Monday announced that state labs have confirmed a total of 94 cases in the state.

The confirmed cases include 55 in Laramie County, 17 in Sweetwater County, 12 in Lincoln County, and two each in the counties of Natrona, Fremont and Uinta.

There's also been one confirmed case in each of Campbell, Johnson, Sheridan and Teton counties.

The department says there are likely more swine flu cases in the state because not all victims are tested.

The department says the only swine flu hospitalization was a woman in Lincoln County with underlying health problems. The woman has been released from the hospital and is recovering.

http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=10650402&nav=menu554_2

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Wyoming - confirmed cases - 94 (7/6)

News from Wyoming Department of Health

Swine Flu-Related Death Confirmed in Wyoming

8/19/2009

The first death of a state resident infected with the swine flu (novel H1N1) virus has been confirmed by Wyoming Department of Health officials.
The young adult female resident of Fremont County had an underlying health condition associated with higher risk of complications from influenza.

Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health officer, offered his sympathy to the woman?s family and friends. ?We are, of course, saddened to hear of this young woman?s passing.?

?Most people who become ill with influenza are able to recover fully after a few days,? Sherard said. ?But, unfortunately, we know that every year with seasonal flu as well as with this new swine flu strain there are always a few situations when the illness can become a serious threat.?

Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue. Some patients have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Sherard reminded Wyoming residents to be cautious about influenza in the coming months and recommended the following common-sense steps to help prevent the spread of illness:

? In general, people who develop influenza-like illness should stay home from work, school or travel until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever. Those who are severely ill (such as having trouble breathing) should seek medical care.

? Frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand gel.

? Covering noses and mouths with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throwing used tissues in a trash can.

? Avoiding contact with ill persons.

A swine flu vaccine is not yet available in Wyoming but is expected later this fall. ?We?re asking everyone to stay tuned for future announcements about this new vaccine. We also want to make sure that people get their standard seasonal flu shots this year,? Sherard said.

To date, 158 cases of swine flu among Wyoming residents have been reported to the department from 15 counties. ?Swine flu has continued to circulate around the state throughout the summer and we expect that it?s been present in every community,? said Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health. ?However, the level of flu activity has been significantly lower over these last few months than what we see during a typical winter flu season.? The department has received reports of seven hospitalizations among Wyoming residents in connection with the virus.

Of the reported cases, 20 were reported from patients under the age of five, 63 cases were from patients age 5 to 18, 75 cases were from patients age 19-64 and no cases were from patients over 65. ?These age ranges have been fairly consistent with what?s been happening with this virus in other states and countries,? Murphy said.

Counts provided by the department only reflect cases confirmed by specialized lab testing as the swine flu strain. The department expects the number of actual infections around the state to be much higher because many ill persons do not seek medical care or are not tested specifically for the swine flu strain.

More information about swine flu in Wyoming is available online at www.health.wyo.gov .

http://wdh.state.wy.us/news.aspx?NewsID=313

[Pathfinder]

Re: Wyoming - 158 (8/19) cases - 1 death

Associated Press writer
Thursday, August 20, 2009 7:30 AM MDT

CHEYENNE -- A 21-year-old woman from Fremont County has become the first Wyoming resident to die from swine flu, state health officials said Wednesday.

The woman, who died this week, had an underlying health condition that increased her risk of having complications from influenza, Wyoming Department of Health spokeswoman Kim Deti said.

Deti would not release the woman's name, citing federal health information privacy law and state law that restricts the release of patient health records. Deti also withheld details about the woman's residence in Fremont County and the nature of her underlying health problems.

"Most people who become ill with influenza are able to recover fully after a few days," said Dr. Brent Sherard, health department director. "But unfortunately, we know that every year with seasonal flu as well as with this new swine flu strain there are always a few situations when the illness can become a serious threat."

Wyoming was one of the last states in the country to detect swine flu when health officials confirmed the state's first case in May. To date, Wyoming health officials have confirmed 158 cases of the virus in 15 different counties. Health officials say they expect the actual number of cases to be much higher, because not all infected people are tested.

Seven Wyoming cases have resulted in hospitalizations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded more than 1 million cases of swine flu and 477 deaths in the United States.

On Wednesday, the federal government urged employers to develop plans for managing both seasonal and swine flu as activity is expected to increase in the fall and winter. Officials asked businesses to help get vaccines first to pregnant women, health care workers and younger adults with conditions such as asthma.

Sherard said Wyoming expects to receive swine flu vaccine this fall. Deti said the state doesn't yet know the details of Wyoming's vaccine allotment. She said most of the vaccine distribution will be handled by local health departments.

Wyoming's confirmed swine flu cases have included 20 in patients under 5, 63 cases in patients ages 5 to 18 and 75 cases in patients ages 19 to 64.

Dr. Tracy Murphy, state epidemiologist, said the age breakdown is similar to virus activity in other states and countries.

"Swine flu has continued to circulate around the state throughout the summer and we expect that it's been present in every community," Murphy said. "However, the level of flu activity has been significantly lower over these last few months than what we see during a typical winter flu season."

http://www.newser.com/localnews/73/wyoming.html