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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARES PHASE 5 EPIDEMIC
April 29, 2009 (San Diego)—Eight cases of people infected with swine influenza have been confirmed in San Diego County, confirms Tom Christensen, Health & Human Services media spokesman. Details on new cases will be released later today. Several other local cases are suspected, including an SDSU student. President Barack Obama today said that schools with an infected student should close down, raising the possibility that SDSU could shut down shortly before final exams scheduled May 4-8.
Today the World Health Organization upgraded the swine flu epidemic to Phase 5, one step short of a Phase 6 global pandemic. WHO has determined that the disease can no longer be contained as it spreads around the world. Locally, testing is also being done on samples from three patients treated at La Maestra clinics, and a woman who died this morning in a La Jolla hospital.
The SDSU student, tested positive for type “A” influenza and was suffering a fever and respiratory illness. An SDSU advisory states, “Based on this, the student is considered to have a “suspected” case of swine flu. The student is currently receiving treatment and the condition is not considered life threatening. SDSU is working with the San Diego County Health Department to further investigate if the student has swine flu. Meantime, the student - who does not live on campus - will not be returning to campus until the condition improves to the point where the student is no longer infectious. We are not aware of any other suspected cases of swine flu on the SDSU campus. Following consultation with the San Diego County Health Department, classes and other university operations are continuing. If a case of swine flu is confirmed, additional information will be provided, however this may take several days.”
The epidemic has raised concerns over a negative economic impact. But San Diego’s economy will get a boost from 10 cruise ships representing five cruise lines that will be skilling Mexican ports of call and docking in San Diego instead. The move is the result of recent travel advisories cautioning against travel to Mexico, where 149 deaths and 2,400 cases of swine flu have been reported.
In the U.S. the majority of cases have been mild and most patients have recovered without hospitalization. At least one death has occurred however; a toddler from Texas who died has been confirmed to be a victim of swine flu.
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those caused by the usual strains of influenza virus and include fever over 100 degrees orally plus other symptoms such as:
* Headache
* Muscle aches
* Cough
* Runny or stuffy nose
* Sore throat
* Fatigue
* Rarely, stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
If you are suffering from these symptoms, stay home.
These are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy as influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick
• CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Persons who experience flu-like symptoms (fever with either cough or sore throat) and wish to seek medical care should contact their health care provider to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at Student Health Services or other clinic, physician’s office, or hospital. Persons who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or are believed to be severely ill should seek immediate medical attention.
• Students at SDSU who stay home due to illness are asked to e-mail professors to notify him/her of absence and to make arrangements for class assignments.
For further information about swine flu, call the County’s 211 line or see http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm
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