?We are now seeing a rising tide of flu in many parts of New York City,? said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden. ?With the virus spreading widely, closing these and other individual schools will make little difference in transmission throughout New York City, but we hope will help slow transmission within the individual school communities. Given the large number of cases, it is entirely possible that in the coming days there will be people with severe illness from flu, particularly among people who have underlying health problems.?
?Our primary goal is to reduce the number of people who get seriously ill from the flu,? Frieden continued. ?If you have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, emphysema, and asthma and have been exposed to someone with flu, see your doctor. Flu spreads, and that is what the H1N1 virus is doing. While the symptoms of H1N1 (SO) flu seem to resemble those of seasonal flu so far, the H1N1 virus appears to be spreading more rapidly at this time. Only time will tell how far, wide and long it will spread.? ....
...In addition to suspending some schools with unusual clusters of illness, the Health Department advises any New Yorker who has flu symptoms and also has an underlying health condition such as asthma, pregnancy, emphysema or other lung disease or diabetes; a compromised immune system or cancer; to seek medical treatment. In addition, if an individual with such a medical condition has household or other close contact with someone with influenza, they should see their doctor to determine whether preventive medicine is needed. For students, staff, and household members of affected students and staff at schools which have been closed, those who have an underlying medical condition as stated above should also see their doctors to discuss the need for preventive medicine.
