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Swine flu confirmed in Navarro County
From Staff and Wire Reports
At least three confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza ? also known as Swine Flu ? have been reported in Navarro County over the past week.
Dr. Kent Rogers, medical director of the Corsicana/Navarro County Health Department, said Sunday he was told of two cases that tested positive for H1N1 Influenza, tests that had been confirmed by a private testing lab. The Daily Sun learned of a third, confirmed case of the Swine Flu from the parent of a child who contracted the illness.
Health care providers have seen a number of cases over the last two weeks with patients exhibiting flu-like symptoms, Rogers said, adding that August is ?a little early? to be seeing the onset of seasonal Influenza.
?There have been a number, 10 to 20, that I?m personally aware of that really sounds like that?s what it is,? Rogers said. ?They screen positive for Influenza-A on the nasal swab, but since we can?t send them off for (state) testing, they?ve been treating them with Tamiflu. It had better success last year with H1N1 than the seasonal flu last year.?
The drug Tamiflu has been used in both the treatment of H1N1 Influenza, as well as given to those who have been exposed to lessen the chance of the virus infecting them.
The State of Texas is not presently processing tests for the H1N1 Influenza, Rogers said. Physicians that see patients with flu-like symptoms can do a nasal swab test for influenza, and based on a positive test can submit the sample for H1N1 screening to private medical labs.
Vaccines for the H1N1 Influenza are not expected to be distributed to health care providers in Texas until Oct. 15, according to Rogers. Vaccines for seasonal Influenza are due for distribution to local health care providers Sept. 1, although some physicians have already received the seasonal vaccine, Rogers said.
With both H1N1 and seasonal Influenza, the best recommendation to help avoid becoming infected is frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with individuals exhibiting flu-like symptoms, Rogers said.
Federal health officials recently relaxed previous recommendations to school officials on dealing with H1N1 Influenza, including shortening the length of time an infected individual needs to stay away from the classroom, and less stringent guidelines on the closure of campuses.
Officials at Texas Christian University last week reported 30 students were suffering from flu-like symptoms, with 10 of those cases confirmed as H1N1 Influenza.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry said last week that while swine flu still poses a risk, the state is better prepared for any outbreak as traditional flu season nears and students return to school.
Local school officials in Texas, which reported some of the first U.S. cases and the first deaths attributed to the virus, can decide to close a school if students or staff become ill, but schools will not automatically be closed as they were last April when the virus first emerged.
Texas has 2.5 million courses of anti-viral medications on hand. It has requested another 800,000 from federal health officials as the traditional flu season nears. The medication can be used to treat both illnesses, though a swine flu vaccine won't be available until mid-October.
"This virus does not seem to want to go away," Perry said. But, "we're more prepared than ever to handle the challenge."
The H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu, emerged in spring as a new strain of flu that worried public health officials because vaccines were unavailable and humans lacked natural immunity to the disease.
The first vaccine for swine flu will be distributed to states by population and should go to people considered most vulnerable to the disease: school-age children, people chronic health conditions and pregnant women.
Commissioner David Lakey of the Texas Department of State Health Services said so far the virus does not appear to be more severe than the seasonal flu but the state is taking precautions.
State Education Commissioner Robert Scott said the state will work with any schools that decide to close because of an outbreak. It will assist them with funding and logistics, and state officials have arranged to ensure students who qualify for free meals can continue to get them if a school closes because of an outbreak.
Scott urged parents to keep their children home if they are suffering flu symptoms, which include fever, cough, sneezing, chills, aches and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting.
"This is not the year to be worried about the perfect attendance award," Scott said. "If you're ill, stay home."
Texas officials were also urging residents to take other commonsense steps like frequently washing their hands, covering coughs and using alcohol-based hand sanitizing products.
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/local_story_242180527.html?keyword=topstory
From Staff and Wire Reports
At least three confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza ? also known as Swine Flu ? have been reported in Navarro County over the past week.
Dr. Kent Rogers, medical director of the Corsicana/Navarro County Health Department, said Sunday he was told of two cases that tested positive for H1N1 Influenza, tests that had been confirmed by a private testing lab. The Daily Sun learned of a third, confirmed case of the Swine Flu from the parent of a child who contracted the illness.
Health care providers have seen a number of cases over the last two weeks with patients exhibiting flu-like symptoms, Rogers said, adding that August is ?a little early? to be seeing the onset of seasonal Influenza.
?There have been a number, 10 to 20, that I?m personally aware of that really sounds like that?s what it is,? Rogers said. ?They screen positive for Influenza-A on the nasal swab, but since we can?t send them off for (state) testing, they?ve been treating them with Tamiflu. It had better success last year with H1N1 than the seasonal flu last year.?
The drug Tamiflu has been used in both the treatment of H1N1 Influenza, as well as given to those who have been exposed to lessen the chance of the virus infecting them.
The State of Texas is not presently processing tests for the H1N1 Influenza, Rogers said. Physicians that see patients with flu-like symptoms can do a nasal swab test for influenza, and based on a positive test can submit the sample for H1N1 screening to private medical labs.
Vaccines for the H1N1 Influenza are not expected to be distributed to health care providers in Texas until Oct. 15, according to Rogers. Vaccines for seasonal Influenza are due for distribution to local health care providers Sept. 1, although some physicians have already received the seasonal vaccine, Rogers said.
With both H1N1 and seasonal Influenza, the best recommendation to help avoid becoming infected is frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with individuals exhibiting flu-like symptoms, Rogers said.
Federal health officials recently relaxed previous recommendations to school officials on dealing with H1N1 Influenza, including shortening the length of time an infected individual needs to stay away from the classroom, and less stringent guidelines on the closure of campuses.
Officials at Texas Christian University last week reported 30 students were suffering from flu-like symptoms, with 10 of those cases confirmed as H1N1 Influenza.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry said last week that while swine flu still poses a risk, the state is better prepared for any outbreak as traditional flu season nears and students return to school.
Local school officials in Texas, which reported some of the first U.S. cases and the first deaths attributed to the virus, can decide to close a school if students or staff become ill, but schools will not automatically be closed as they were last April when the virus first emerged.
Texas has 2.5 million courses of anti-viral medications on hand. It has requested another 800,000 from federal health officials as the traditional flu season nears. The medication can be used to treat both illnesses, though a swine flu vaccine won't be available until mid-October.
"This virus does not seem to want to go away," Perry said. But, "we're more prepared than ever to handle the challenge."
The H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu, emerged in spring as a new strain of flu that worried public health officials because vaccines were unavailable and humans lacked natural immunity to the disease.
The first vaccine for swine flu will be distributed to states by population and should go to people considered most vulnerable to the disease: school-age children, people chronic health conditions and pregnant women.
Commissioner David Lakey of the Texas Department of State Health Services said so far the virus does not appear to be more severe than the seasonal flu but the state is taking precautions.
State Education Commissioner Robert Scott said the state will work with any schools that decide to close because of an outbreak. It will assist them with funding and logistics, and state officials have arranged to ensure students who qualify for free meals can continue to get them if a school closes because of an outbreak.
Scott urged parents to keep their children home if they are suffering flu symptoms, which include fever, cough, sneezing, chills, aches and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting.
"This is not the year to be worried about the perfect attendance award," Scott said. "If you're ill, stay home."
Texas officials were also urging residents to take other commonsense steps like frequently washing their hands, covering coughs and using alcohol-based hand sanitizing products.
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/news/local_story_242180527.html?keyword=topstory