6 probable swine flu cases surface in Washington state
SEATTLE -- Five probable cases of swine flu have surfaced in Western Washington, health officials said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Officials said the three of the victims are Seattle residents.
An 11-year-old boy, a student of Madrona Elementary School, was hospitalized earlier this week with flu-like symptoms. Officials said the boy stayed home from school on Monday when he felt ill and as a result, is believed to have prevented exposure to other students. The boy was said to be improving on Wednesday night.
The second victim is a 27-year-old man who lives alone and has not traveled recently, officials said. He was not hospitalized and is said to be improving.
A 33-year-old physician is also a probable case. Officials said the woman's husband and two children have also shown some symptoms. The woman was not hospitalized, and she and her family are recovering at home. The physician's patients who may have been exposed are being notified.
"Now that swine flu is likely in King County, we expect to see more infections, but it's too early to say how severe the illnesses will be," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County in a statement.
Two other victims are in the Snohomish County -- a 6-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman. Details on the cases were not available, but Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Snohomish County Health District health officer, said there is no evidence schools in his county were affected.
Health officials said a sixth possible case surfaced in Spokane County. They said a man in his 40s who had recently traveled to California fell ill with flu-like symptoms.
Samples have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for formal confirmation, officials said.
"I think president Obama said it best when he said this is something for us to be concerned about, but not to be alarmed about," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "The main message is we can do a lot to prevent the spread of this by taking very simple, very common-sense measures."
Swine flu has symptoms nearly identical to regular flu - fever, cough and sore throat - and spreads like regular flu, through tiny particles in the air, when people cough or sneeze. People with flu symptoms are advised to stay at home, wash their hands and cover their sneezes.
Nickels said the city would activate its Emergency Operations Center at its first level to coordinate procedures and communications that might be needed in response to the flu cases.
"Health experts in our state are monitoring the situation and have a well-practiced plan in place," Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement.
The spreading illness is a new strain of an influenza virus normally found in pigs. The swine flu H1N1 virus has developed the ability to infect people and be transmitted from person to person.
The World Health Organization warned Wednesday that the swine flu outbreak is moving closer to becoming a pandemic, as the United States reported the first swine flu death outside of Mexico in a toddler who succumbed in Texas.
Thanks to previous federal grants for pandemic preparedness, Washington state health officials have TV public service advertisements ready, they've written up plans and practiced exercises on how to receive and distribute medication to combat the flu, and there's flu information available online, state Health Department spokesman Tim Church said.
Local health officials meet daily by phone with the state Health Department and everyone is working on getting information out to the public, Church said.
"We have a plan in place. We've practiced it. Everybody knows their roles," he said. "Four to five years ago, we wouldn't have had that in place."
Church said the overall flu season, which typically peaks in February, is tailing off. He said there have not been an abnormal number of flu cases for this time of year in the state.
The department estimates the flu situation by checking with a few schools and nursing homes.
The University of Washington has a small number of students in Mexico, about eight or nine, but the university is not advising them to come home, UW spokesman Bob Roseth said.
Swine flu resources:
Pandemic flu preparedness
Officials said the three of the victims are Seattle residents.
An 11-year-old boy, a student of Madrona Elementary School, was hospitalized earlier this week with flu-like symptoms. Officials said the boy stayed home from school on Monday when he felt ill and as a result, is believed to have prevented exposure to other students. The boy was said to be improving on Wednesday night.
The second victim is a 27-year-old man who lives alone and has not traveled recently, officials said. He was not hospitalized and is said to be improving.
A 33-year-old physician is also a probable case. Officials said the woman's husband and two children have also shown some symptoms. The woman was not hospitalized, and she and her family are recovering at home. The physician's patients who may have been exposed are being notified.
"Now that swine flu is likely in King County, we expect to see more infections, but it's too early to say how severe the illnesses will be," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County in a statement.
Two other victims are in the Snohomish County -- a 6-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman. Details on the cases were not available, but Dr. Gary Goldbaum, Snohomish County Health District health officer, said there is no evidence schools in his county were affected.
Health officials said a sixth possible case surfaced in Spokane County. They said a man in his 40s who had recently traveled to California fell ill with flu-like symptoms.
Samples have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for formal confirmation, officials said.
"I think president Obama said it best when he said this is something for us to be concerned about, but not to be alarmed about," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "The main message is we can do a lot to prevent the spread of this by taking very simple, very common-sense measures."
Swine flu has symptoms nearly identical to regular flu - fever, cough and sore throat - and spreads like regular flu, through tiny particles in the air, when people cough or sneeze. People with flu symptoms are advised to stay at home, wash their hands and cover their sneezes.
Nickels said the city would activate its Emergency Operations Center at its first level to coordinate procedures and communications that might be needed in response to the flu cases.
"Health experts in our state are monitoring the situation and have a well-practiced plan in place," Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement.
The spreading illness is a new strain of an influenza virus normally found in pigs. The swine flu H1N1 virus has developed the ability to infect people and be transmitted from person to person.
The World Health Organization warned Wednesday that the swine flu outbreak is moving closer to becoming a pandemic, as the United States reported the first swine flu death outside of Mexico in a toddler who succumbed in Texas.
Thanks to previous federal grants for pandemic preparedness, Washington state health officials have TV public service advertisements ready, they've written up plans and practiced exercises on how to receive and distribute medication to combat the flu, and there's flu information available online, state Health Department spokesman Tim Church said.
Local health officials meet daily by phone with the state Health Department and everyone is working on getting information out to the public, Church said.
"We have a plan in place. We've practiced it. Everybody knows their roles," he said. "Four to five years ago, we wouldn't have had that in place."
Church said the overall flu season, which typically peaks in February, is tailing off. He said there have not been an abnormal number of flu cases for this time of year in the state.
The department estimates the flu situation by checking with a few schools and nursing homes.
The University of Washington has a small number of students in Mexico, about eight or nine, but the university is not advising them to come home, UW spokesman Bob Roseth said.
Swine flu resources:
Pandemic flu preparedness