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Jail Takes Precautions With Flu-Like Illness
By Robin Williams Adams
THE LEDGER
Published: Friday, August 7, 2009 at 9:56 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 7, 2009 at 9:56 p.m.
BARTOW | A handful of inmates in the Polk County Jail have signs of flu-like illness, such as elevated temperatures, and have been isolated in a dorm.
Swabs were taken to determine whether they have flu, either regular flu strains or the new swine flu, but results aren't expected back until next week, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donna Wood.
The Polk County Health Department has been notified. However, Dr. Daniel Haight said Friday that at this point, it would be premature to call the illnesses suspected swine flu.
"They could be colds or they could be flu-like symptoms (of diseases that aren't flu)," said Haight, director of the Polk County Health Department.
It is an appropriate way for the jail to respond to clusters of illness such as this, he said.
The Health Department is working with the Sheriff's Office, giving advice the way it would with other employers and groups, Haight said.
"There are clusters (of illnesses) and there are phone calls from people saying things like 'so and so's daughter has it,'" he said. "Just because someone's daughter has it doesn't mean there has been a change (in risk). Flu is everywhere."
For that reason, Haight has said before, he isn't routinely reporting cases or groups of cases. The department is working with places where possible clusters of cases are occurring.
Health Department officials met late last month with courthouse managers after reports of a cluster of cases in Drug Court caused alarm.
"The current flu activity you're seeing now is actually less than you would be seeing during the height of the flu season," Haight said at the time.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090807/NEWS/908075074/1134?Title=Jail-Takes-Precautions-With-Flu-Like-Illness
By Robin Williams Adams
THE LEDGER
Published: Friday, August 7, 2009 at 9:56 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 7, 2009 at 9:56 p.m.
BARTOW | A handful of inmates in the Polk County Jail have signs of flu-like illness, such as elevated temperatures, and have been isolated in a dorm.
Swabs were taken to determine whether they have flu, either regular flu strains or the new swine flu, but results aren't expected back until next week, according to Polk County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Donna Wood.
The Polk County Health Department has been notified. However, Dr. Daniel Haight said Friday that at this point, it would be premature to call the illnesses suspected swine flu.
"They could be colds or they could be flu-like symptoms (of diseases that aren't flu)," said Haight, director of the Polk County Health Department.
It is an appropriate way for the jail to respond to clusters of illness such as this, he said.
The Health Department is working with the Sheriff's Office, giving advice the way it would with other employers and groups, Haight said.
"There are clusters (of illnesses) and there are phone calls from people saying things like 'so and so's daughter has it,'" he said. "Just because someone's daughter has it doesn't mean there has been a change (in risk). Flu is everywhere."
For that reason, Haight has said before, he isn't routinely reporting cases or groups of cases. The department is working with places where possible clusters of cases are occurring.
Health Department officials met late last month with courthouse managers after reports of a cluster of cases in Drug Court caused alarm.
"The current flu activity you're seeing now is actually less than you would be seeing during the height of the flu season," Haight said at the time.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090807/NEWS/908075074/1134?Title=Jail-Takes-Precautions-With-Flu-Like-Illness