Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 May 2009 — Page 10

Page 10 • The Muncie Times • May 7, 2009

continued from page 1 - how to identify and care for people who are sick with novel H1N1 flu now that more widespread illness has been detected in the United States. CDC recommends that testing and antiviral treatment be prioritized for those with severe respiratory illness and those at highest risk of complications from seasonal influenza. This includes children younger than 5, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems, and people 65 and older. In addition, CDC has provided information for the public on what to do if they develop flu-like symptoms. CDC has completed deployment of 25 percent of the supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to all states in the continental United States. These supplies and medicines will help states and U.S. territories respond to the outbreak. In addition, the Federal Government and manufacturers have begun the process of developing a vaccine against the novel H1N1 flu virus. Response actions are aggressive, but they may vary across states and communities depending on local circumstances. Communities, businesses, places of worship, schools and individuals can all take action to slow the spread of this outbreak. People who are sick are urged to stay home from work or school and to avoid contact with others, except to seek medical

care. This action can avoid spreading illness further. In response to the number of confirmed swine influenza cases in the United States climbing above 400 and the first reported death, a public health emergency has been declared as a precautionary measure to prevent further spread of the virus. On April 29, the director of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, M.D., announced, "Based on assessment of all available information, and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5." Phase 5 would mean we've reached the level of pandemic. In response to the mounting HlNl-swine-flu-related death toll in Mexico, President Felipe Calderon urged government offices and private businesses that are not crucial to the economy to stop work, as well as asking general citizens to stay indoors, from May 1 to May 5 to avoid further spread of infections. Presently, there is no vaccine to prevent this specific strain, and it will take 13 weeks from the point of swine flu discovery for one to developed. The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent the flu.

* Avoid close contact. * Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. * Stay home when you are sick. * If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. * Cover your mouth and nose. * Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. * Clean your hands. * Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. * Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. * Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. *Practice other good health habits. *Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Schools throughout the country, including New York, California and

Texas, where students have reported symptoms of the flu have been closed. Presently, the Health Department is investigating an alleged swine flu outbreak at the St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, where 100 students missed classes because of flu-like illness last week, according to Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Symptoms of swine flu in people include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing, which are all symptoms of the human influenza virus. Some people have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Typically found in pigs, swine influenza is caused by influenza type A viruses and is an acute respiratory illness that causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. While swine flu does not normally infect humans—the CDC reports that approximately one human swine influenza virus infection every 1 to 2 years in the United States—from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine influenza were reported. "Most of the time [the virus] stays in pigs," says Dr. David Reeves, associate professor of population health at The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "The one that

they're talking about appears to be a new strain of the virus. We don't know how it happened. We've not seen it in pigs, but it's circulating within humans. Why? That's the million dollar question."

State-by-state swine flu reports According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, here's what has been reported across the United States;

Alabama 4 Arizona 17 California 49 Colorado 6 Connecticut 2 Delaware 20 Florida 5 Georgia 1 Idaho 1 Illinois 82 Indiana 3 Iowa 1 Kansas 2 Kentucky* 1 Louisiana 7 Maine I Maryland 4 Massachusetts 6 Michigan 2 Minnesota 1 Missouri 1 Nebraska 1 Nevada 1

New Hampshire 1 New Jersey 6 New Mexico 1 New York 90 North Carolina 1 Ohio 3 Oregon 15 Pennsylvania 1 Rhode Island 1 South Carolina 16

Tennessee 2 Texas 41 Utah 1 Virginia 3

Wisconsin 3