An 11-year-old Renton boy is one of 70 confirmed cases of the swine flu (H1N1) in King County, according to Public Health – Seattle and King County.
The first death related to the swine flu was also announced this weekend, a Snohomish County man in his 30s who had an underlying heart condition.
There were 9 “probable” cases of swine flu in the county as of Saturday, awaiting confirmation by lab testing that the person actually has the strain of flu. Those sickened by the flu range in age from a 1-month-old Seattle boy to an 80-year-old Seattle woman who was hospitalized for a time.
Current case counts and future updates will be posted on the Public Health Web site.
The CDC has determined that the swine flu virus H1N1 is contagious and is spreading from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu include a fever of more than 100 degrees, coughing, joint aches, severe headache and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.
The number of “probable” cases in King County grows almost daily. No deaths because of flu virus have been reported in the county as of Wednesday.
The Renton School District’s health department was notified of a possible swine-flu case last Thursday, with a more formal notification made on Monday. The district on Tuesday sent home a letter to parents at Renton Park Elementary School, where the student is a fifth grader.
The Renton Park boy was showing signs of being sick at school early last week, according to Randy Matheson, a spokesman for the Renton School District. The child’s parents took him to the doctor, who then contacted Public Health, according to Matheson.
Following a new health department policy, Matheson said the school district would not close the school. Public Health is now promoting more vigilance on the part of parents and teachers to detect possible cases of the flu. The flu is not as severe as initially thought, but is more widespread, which is why Public Health is asking for the heightened awareness to stop its further spread.
James Apa, a Public Health spokesman, said because the virus is widespread it can’t be stopped by focusing on a few isolated cases, which would include closing schools.
The swine-flu outbreak in King County “doesn’t call for that level of intervention,” Apa said.
Matheson said on Wednesday there has not been an increase of reported illnesses or absences at Renton Park Elementary school.
The Renton Park case came to light as Public Health was changing its thinking about its response to the swine flu, according to Matheson. Still, Matheson said, the school district is obligated to tell parents about the illness in a school.
“We have to consider the parents of children at a school who want to make sure that even if it is normal flu that their kids are safe to go to school,” Matheson said.
Public Health is working closely with school districts to support the new approach to reduce infections in schools.
Apa, the Public Health spokesman, said the arrival of spring will help stop the spread of the flu because the virus doesn’t “do as well” when the weather warms up.
“That’s why the flu seasons are in the winter,” he said. Potentially, the flu could come back in the fall, he said.
Although the symptoms are milder than first thought, Public Health is still talking with each sufferer to figure out how he or see contracted the flu. In most cases, Apa said, the sufferers didn’t have any risk factors for the flu.
That lack of risk factor is evidence that the flu is widespread, he said.
Also it’s possible the swine flu was here all along, he said. “Once we started looking for it, we would inevitably have found it,” Apa said.
The current outbreak is thought to have started in Mexico and was spread by travelers.
Apa said Public Health will continue to monitor the situation closely because “viruses are tricky.” The current virus is the result of a mutation and it could mutate again, he said.
“It has the potential to mutate into something more severe in the future,” he said.
The federal government is working on a developing a vaccine, which could be available by year’s end. Instead of closing a school when there is a probable case, Public Health is recommending that:
• Parents carefully check their children before school for signs and symptoms of the flu. If symptoms are present, they should not send their children to school.
• Schools should monitor children and conduct symptoms checks. If they find children with symptoms of the flu, those children should be sent home.
• School staff and faculty should assess themselves for symptoms of influenza.
“Our parents are at the front lines of stopping the spread of infection. We are urging all parents to assess their kids every morning to see if they’re sick, and keep them home if they are,” Dr. David Fleming, Public Health director, said in a press release.
“In addition, we will be working with schools across King County to help them identify if children are ill so that sick students are sent home before they expose other children,” he said.
Recommendations for seeking medical care
• Some local hospitals and health care providers are reporting that many people are unnecessarily going to emergency rooms and doctors’ offices with mild symptoms. In terms of seeking medical care, use the same judgment you would use during a typical flu season.
• Do not seek medical care if you are not ill or have mild symptoms for which you would not ordinarily seek medical care. If you have more severe symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches or are feeling more seriously ill, call your health care provider to discuss your symptoms and if you need to be evaluated. Your health care provider will determine if a test is appropriate, based on guidelines from Public Health.
• If you need care and do not have a medical provider or health insurance, call the Community Health Access Program at 800-756-5437. You will not be asked to show proof of your immigration status.
How to prevent flu spread
• If you are sick, stay home from work or school.
• 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. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• To further prevent the spread of germs, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with sick people
FLU HOTLINE
Public Health has established a Flu Hotline for the public at 877-903-KING (5464), staffed from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Interpreters are available. The Flu Hotline provides health and safety information on the current Swine Flu (H1N1) outbreak. If you need medical advice, contact your healthcare provider. Starting Wednesday (May 6), the Flu Hotline will provide expanded service by offering callers an opportunity to speak with registered nurses. Hotline nurses will tell callers how to manage their symptoms at home, tell them if they need to see a doctor or health care provider and answer other medical questions about H1N1 flu.
TELÉFONO DIRECTO DE LA GRIPE
La salud pública ha establecido un teléfono directo de la gripe para el público en 877-903-KING (5464), proveído de personal de lunes al viernes 9 mañana a 5 intérpretes del P.M. está disponible. El teléfono directo de la gripe proporciona la información de salud y de seguridad en el brote actual de la gripe de los cerdos (H1N1). Si usted necesita consejo médico, entre en contacto con su proveedor de asistencia sanitaria. Comenzando miércoles (el 6 de mayo), el teléfono directo de la gripe proporcionará servicio ampliado ofreciendo a llamadores una oportunidad de hablar con las enfermeras registradas. Las enfermeras del teléfono directo dirán a llamadores cómo manejar sus síntomas en el país, les dicen si necesitan ver un doctor o a un proveedor de asistencia sanitaria y contestar a otras preguntas médicas sobre la gripe H1N1.
Renton School District letter to district staff, parents regarding swine flu
