Re: New York Health Authorities Confirm Swine Flu in 8 Samples Taken from School Children
Re: New York Health Authorities Confirm Swine Flu in 8 Samples Taken from School Children
CDC Confirms Swine Flu---UPDATE
http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stor...swine-flu-cases-at-queens-school/Default.aspx
Mayor Bloomberg says the Centers for Disease Control has confirmed eight cases of swine flu at a Queens high school after dozens of students reported mild flu-like symptoms this past week.
The mayor made the remarks during a press conference this afternoon and says the city is closely monitoring the outbreak.
St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows will remain closed tomorrow.
Officials say all of the students reported mild symptoms and none were taken to the hospital.
Despite the illnesses, St. Francis went ahead with its 25-year and 50-year reunions last night. Those in attendance say there was some concern about whether to show up.
"It was definitely a controversy on whether or not we were going to attend. Half of us have decided to come and half of us decided not to come so in a way that's sort of sad," said St. Francis Alumnus Diana Brobmann.
The city's health department is also investigating a possible outbreak at a Bronx day care facility, where 30 children got sick.
The department has tested the kids and is waiting for the results.
Department officials say they haven't seen any recent city-wide increases in flu-like symptoms, but that they are monitoring the situation every 12 hours to make sure more people aren't getting sick.
Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden is urging anyone who feels sick to stay home, but says the city is ready for any emergency.
"The city is very well prepared. We have been preparing for years at every level. We've been preparing with detection, so we can track whether a pandemic or other serious problem comes, and if so where it is, what the characteristics are," said Frieden.
Governor David Paterson has directed the state Department of Health to monitor and respond to possible cases of swine flu. He says 1,500 treatment courses of the antiviral Tamiflu have been sent to New York City.
Tamiflu is believed to be effective in treating serious cases of swine flu.
The state Department of Health has set up a 24-hour hotline to answer questions about swine flu and can be reached at 1-800-808-1987 .
Meanwhile, New Zealand's health minister says 10 students who just returned from Mexico have tested positive for influenza and that the cases are "likely" to be swine flu.
The news comes a day after two dozen new suspected cases of flu were reported in Mexico City.
The World Health Organization says at least 81 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness in Mexico. Tests have confirmed swine flu as the cause of death in 20 of the cases.
In response to the outbreak, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has assumed new powers to isolate infected people.
The powers also allow the country's health department to inspect homes, incoming travelers and luggage.
The U.S. Embassy is warning Americans traveling in Mexico to avoid crowds.
The White House says President Barack Obama's health is fine a little more than a week after he visited Mexico, and that Obama is being updated regularly on the flu outbreak.
The same virus has also sickened at least 11 people in Texas, California and Kansas, but no deaths have been reported in the U.S.
said Governor Paterson.
