Kentucky Dept. of Public Health Statement on Swine Flu
A notice from the Kentucky Department for Public Health:
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is actively monitoring the swine flu outbreak and is asking health care providers and public health officials to be on the alert for potential cases of swine flu in Kentucky. While no cases have yet been identified in Kentucky, DPH is asking that physicians, hospitals, public health workers and other health care providers submit samples from any patient testing positive for influenza A or that a health care provider strongly suspects might be infected with swine flu to the State Public Health Laboratory for further testing.
DPH also asks that Kentuckians who may have traveled recently to Mexico or affected areas, or who are planning such travel, be alert for the symptoms of swine flu in the following ways:
- Monitor yourself and travel companions for symptoms of fever, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, body aches, and vomiting or diarrhea.
- If symptoms of influenza-like illness develop within seven days of travel return, seek evaluation by a health care provider as soon as possible.
- Be sure to tell your health care provider about your recent travel and suggest testing for influenza.
- Stay home from work, school and other public places until you are feeling well.
As always, DPH reminds individuals to take common sense precautions to prevent illness, including: avoiding close contact with those who are ill; staying home when sick; covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth; and frequent hand washing.
Currently, there are approximately 40 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S., a number that is expected to grow. The World Health Organization and CDC have reported numerous human cases of a severe respiratory illness in at least three different regions of Mexico. The number of cases has risen steadily since the beginning of April 2009. Laboratory testing of patient specimens has confirmed infections with swine influenza (”swine flu”) A/H1N1 virus. This is a newly emerging, animal-origin virus that is now being spread from an infected person to another person.
For more information on swine flu and updated case counts, visit: http://cdc.gov/swineflu or http://healthalerts.ky.gov
