BY ALEX CANTATORE
The outbreak of H1N1 swine flu has yet to spread to Stanislaus County, according to the county’s Area Emergency Operations Center. As of Friday, no probable or confirmed cases of the virus have been reported within the county, though vigilance is still advised.
“It is important for everyone to protect themselves and their families by practicing good hand and respiratory hygiene,” said Stanislaus County Health Officer John Walker. “This includes frequent hand washing, regular use of hand sanitizers, and covering coughs and sneezes. In addition, you should stay home when you are sick.”
The nearest confirmed case of H1N1 swine flu is in Sacramento County, according to the California Department of Public Health. San Joaquin County has reported one probable case of swine flu, which has yet to be confirmed.
Swine flu - which is believed to have developed in pigs but cannot be transferred through the eating of properly cooked pork - came to national attention when it was identified as a new, potentially pandemic strain of the influenza A virus on April 14 by the Centers for Disease Control. There are no vaccines currently available for the swine flu, but anti-flu drugs such as Tamiflu and Relenza are used to treat infected patients.
According to CDC representatives, early testing seems to point to swine flu being less dangerous than originally had been feared, despite some similarities to the 1918 Spanish flu virus.
“What we have found by looking very carefully at the sequences of the new H1N1 virus is that we do not see the markers for virulence that we’re seeing in the 1918 virus,” said Dr. Nancy Cox, director of the CDC influenza division. “However, we know that there’s a great deal that we do not yet understand about the virulence of the 1918 virus or other influenza viruses that have a more severe clinical picture in humans. So we’re continuing to learn.”
As specifics regarding the potentially deadly virus are still unknown, several California schools have shuttered their doors in reaction to probable or confirmed swine flu infections in students. San Jose’s Branham High School, St. Mel School in Fair Oaks, and Highlands Elementary School in Pittsburg have all closed this week.
“I am working closely with state health officials to monitor the spread of swine flu and its potential impact on the education of California’s 6.2 million public school students,” said State Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell on Tuesday. “This is a rapidly changing situation that deserves our heightened attention.”
Other states have also been forced into action to address the swine flu outbreak. On Wednesday, the State of Texas postponed all public high school athletic and academic competitions until May 11 due to outbreaks of the disease in that state.
Turlock Unified School District Communications Specialist Janet Pohl stated that there are no plans to close Turlock schools or discontinue any programs in the face of the swine flu threat.
“Our schools are safe,” reiterated O’Connell. “We want students to continue to come to school.”
Despite the current safety of Stanislaus County schools, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office has already taken action to ensure that the May 19 Statewide Special Election is not disturbed by the swine flu. All polling sites have been relocated away from schools to avoid any impact that Election Day school closures could have on the election.
President Barack Obama pledged government support in dealing with the swine flu when he addressed the National Academy of Sciences in Washington on Wednesday, but urged calm until more details emerge.
“This is obviously a cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert, but it’s not a cause for alarm,” Obama said.
Members of the public can call the Swine Flu Hotline at 558-8872 for pre-recorded information in both English and Spanish.
To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.
Originally published in the Turlock Journal 5/1/2009.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.