Sunday, April 26, 2009

Ohio Swine Flu Case Confirmed

April 26, 2009


9-Year-Old Has 'Mild' Case Of New Influenza Strain

State health officials confirmed that the swine flu has made it to Ohio.Agents with the Ohio Department of Health announced that a 9-year-old boy from Lorain County has been diagnosed with the disease.Doctors said the patient has a mild case of the flu and that he is recovering at home.Because the latest combination of the influenza virus is still being analyzed, health agents are asking resident to take extra precaution against exposure.

The ODH said that as with other emerging flu strains, there is no vaccine for the swine flu yet.“I urge Ohioans to be alert to information about this new flu,” said ODH Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D. “In addition, the tried-and-true saying about washing hands and covering one’s cough remains sound medical advice.”Symptoms of this swine flu virus closely resemble seasonal flu, and include fever, weakness, coughing and lack of appetite.

Local Preparations

The Cincinnati Health Department is watching for local cases of swine flu, and echoes the state health department’s call for serious preparation.

Local hospitals have been told what to look for and have been asked to test anyone with flu-like illnesses.

Dr. Steve Englender, of the Health Department, said experts think the world is “overdue” for a pandemic -- an illness that quickly spreads and causes large numbers of infections and large numbers of deaths.

Because this strain of swine flu is a new strain, it could be that bug."We have a brand new virus -- never been seen before -- that can infect people, and the public health medical concern is that if everyone is susceptible to this, this could, in fact, become the virus that causes the next pandemic," Englender said.

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