Suspected swine flu case in US Marines: general
10 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) ? A US Marine is suspected of falling ill with swine flu and has been quarantined on a California military base with his roommate, and 37 others who came in contact with him are under observation, the Marine Corps commandant said Wednesday.
"We have one suspected but not confirmed case at 29 Palms," General James Conway told a news conference, referring to the marine base in southern California.
The marine had flu-like symptoms and initial tests indicated he may have swine flu, Conway said.
"He has been quarantined" along with his roommate, the general said.
The marine and his roommate "are not being allowed any other access to human beings" apart from medical staff, he said.
Conway said results from further tests for the marine would be ready within 48 hours.
The general said the marine being tested had not recently visited Mexico, where the flu has been blamed for more than 150 deaths.
The marine's life was not in danger, Conway said.
"He's doing fine. He's up and about. He said he feels pretty good. The doctors tell us at this point there appears to be no threat to him in terms of loss of life," he said.
The military also had identified 37 other marines that the patient had come into contact with over the weekend, Conway said.
"Those people have also been set aside and they are being watched and tested" and given the anti-viral medicine Tamiflu, he said.
The 37 marines are under restrictions and barred from going to the military canteen or other public places but "are not quarantined to the same level" as the patient with suspected H1N1.
"They are also restricted until they are completely tested and we understand whether or not there's been any transmission," he said.
Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said there were no other suspected H1N1 cases in the military.
The department has said it was focused on ensuring the health of US military forces and had large reserves of anti-viral medicine if needed.
President Barack Obama said Wednesday the outbreak of swine flu had created a "serious situation" in the United States requiring the "utmost precautions," after the first US death from H1N1.
US health authorities on Tuesday said there were 65 confirmed cases of swine flu, which is believed to have killed 159 people in neighboring Mexico.
Most of the US cases have been relatively mild, with only a handful of sufferers requiring hospitalization, but a Mexican child has died in Texas.
A 23-month-old toddler, who traveled from Mexico to Texas where he fell ill and was treated, became the first confirmed death in the United States, officials said Wednesday.
The head of the Texas health department, David Lakey, said it was "highly likely" that the child was infected in Mexico before coming into Texas.
<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=article) -->Copyright ? 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gE_endnl9I0qxEAEqEKD8QVC2t6g
10 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) ? A US Marine is suspected of falling ill with swine flu and has been quarantined on a California military base with his roommate, and 37 others who came in contact with him are under observation, the Marine Corps commandant said Wednesday.
"We have one suspected but not confirmed case at 29 Palms," General James Conway told a news conference, referring to the marine base in southern California.
The marine had flu-like symptoms and initial tests indicated he may have swine flu, Conway said.
"He has been quarantined" along with his roommate, the general said.
The marine and his roommate "are not being allowed any other access to human beings" apart from medical staff, he said.
Conway said results from further tests for the marine would be ready within 48 hours.
The general said the marine being tested had not recently visited Mexico, where the flu has been blamed for more than 150 deaths.
The marine's life was not in danger, Conway said.
"He's doing fine. He's up and about. He said he feels pretty good. The doctors tell us at this point there appears to be no threat to him in terms of loss of life," he said.
The military also had identified 37 other marines that the patient had come into contact with over the weekend, Conway said.
"Those people have also been set aside and they are being watched and tested" and given the anti-viral medicine Tamiflu, he said.
The 37 marines are under restrictions and barred from going to the military canteen or other public places but "are not quarantined to the same level" as the patient with suspected H1N1.
"They are also restricted until they are completely tested and we understand whether or not there's been any transmission," he said.
Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said there were no other suspected H1N1 cases in the military.
The department has said it was focused on ensuring the health of US military forces and had large reserves of anti-viral medicine if needed.
President Barack Obama said Wednesday the outbreak of swine flu had created a "serious situation" in the United States requiring the "utmost precautions," after the first US death from H1N1.
US health authorities on Tuesday said there were 65 confirmed cases of swine flu, which is believed to have killed 159 people in neighboring Mexico.
Most of the US cases have been relatively mild, with only a handful of sufferers requiring hospitalization, but a Mexican child has died in Texas.
A 23-month-old toddler, who traveled from Mexico to Texas where he fell ill and was treated, became the first confirmed death in the United States, officials said Wednesday.
The head of the Texas health department, David Lakey, said it was "highly likely" that the child was infected in Mexico before coming into Texas.
<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=article) -->Copyright ? 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gE_endnl9I0qxEAEqEKD8QVC2t6g