Physician and writer Rahul K. Parikh has collected the latest information on the swine flu on the Internet on his blog (CDC twitters? Who knew?). As far as we know, Swine Flu doesn't have a Facebook page yet, but stay tuned!
(thx 2 Monica).
Also, our friend and fellow blogger Ann Erdman, Pasadena's public information officer, has sent this message from Pasadena public health, but it's good information for everyone:
CITY OF PASADENA PUBLIC
AFFAIRS OFFICE
NEWS FOR RELEASE: April 27, 2009 (as of 4 p.m.)
PASADENA PUBLIC
HEALTH DEPARTMENT URGES HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND GENERAL PUBLIC
TO BE ON WATCH FOR SWINE FLU
The Pasadena Public Health Department is issuing an alert to physicians
to be on the watch for the A/H1N1 (swine flu) virus in humans.
While no individual cases have been identified in the Pasadena area at
this time, as of today there are 40 confirmed cases of swine flu in the
United States, with seven of those cases in California according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The illness in
the U.S. currently is not severe.
“While this situation is fluid and changing, the Pasadena Public Health
Department is implementing a response plan, and we are working with our
community partners and providers to ramp up local surveillance,” said Dr.
Takashi Wada, director and health officer with the Pasadena Public Health
Department. “Since the flu season is waning, we are asking doctors
to please take note if they see patients with high fevers, coughs and
sore throats, who have recently traveled to affected areas such as Mexico
or who have been in contact with persons who had fevers and who have been
in these affected areas.”
Health providers should contact the Pasadena Public Health Department for
clinical guidance on testing and treatment.
“We are working closely with our counterparts on the county, state and
national levels to be as proactive as possible to minimize the potential
impact of swine flu in the Pasadena community,” Wada added.
in addition, the Public Health Department urges the use of these
prevention measures for the general public:
* As always, people with respiratory illnesses and fevers should stay
home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including
influenza, to others in the community.
* Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear
ill.
*Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
* Wash your hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory
illness.
The symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to the symptoms of
seasonal influenza. These include fever greater than 100 degrees,
coughing, sore throat, chills, headache and body aches, fatigue,
respiratory congestion and, in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.
People experiencing these symptoms should stay home and contact their
medial providers.
Seek emergency medical care if you or someone you know is having any of
following warning signs:
IN CHILDREN, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention
include:
* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse
cough
* Fever with a rash
IN ADULTS, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention
include:
*Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting
The infection appears to spread from person to person. Swine
influenza viruses are not transmitted by food; a person cannot get swine
influenza from eating pork products.
For more information on swine flu, visit
www.cityofpasadena.net/
The Pasadena Public Health Department will provide local updates as they
become necessary.
