LAKE COUNTY ? A nationwide outbreak of swine influenza (swine flu) has officials recommending caution as efforts to identify occurrences of the disease continue.
Health officials at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are coordinating with local, state and federal officials to keep the public informed about the disease”s spread. CDPH officials said during a Tuesday conference call it will provide daily updates about confirmed cases.
“Our primary focus is on individual behavior, and there are three major messages. It”s about hand washing, it”s about covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze if you feel ill ? we”ve been hearing about the Dracula sneeze where you sneeze into your elbow ? kids should not be going to school and individuals who feel sick should not be going to work or be on public transportation or be taking flights,” CDPH Director Dr. Mark Horton said.
There were 11 confirmed cases of swine flu statewide on Tuesday, and seven probable cases. Of those, one confirmed case and three probable cases were in Sacramento County. There were two probable cases in Marin County. A list of confirmed cases is available at www.cdph.ca.gov.
The symptoms are exactly like seasonal influenza symptoms, according to Dr. Bonnie Sorensen, chief deputy director at CDPH. They include fever, cough, soar throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.
Sorensen said face-to-face contact should be avoided, as the disease is believed to be spreading from person to person via “droplets” of spray emitted when an infected person sneezes or coughs.
Lake County Public Health Officer Karen Tait said no cases of swine flu have yet been reported in Lake County.
“I would be not surprised if we end up with a possible (case) soon. I fully expect that if we go looking for this virus we will event detect it,” Tate said.
Continued Tait, “We are working with healthcare facilities in the area and in other selected areas to monitor reports of influenza-like illness, so we can work with those facilities to direct appropriate people to get testing.”
Tait said flu-like symptoms are unusual with the regular flu season coming to a close, but not everyone should be tested.
One Los Angeles death initially suspected to have resulted from swine flu was not, Sorensen said, and another is being investigated. Sorensen said physicians are urged to test patients who are hospitalized for respiratory illness.
The outbreak spurred Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency Tuesday morning. In his proclamation, he ordered measures to streamline the bidding process for services, material, personnel and equipment needed to respond to the outbreak, and ordered state agencies to coordinate their efforts.
In a Tuesday press release, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O”Connell urged schools and child care providers to intensify efforts to teach flu prevention strategies, and to keep safety plans current.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
