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Texas Reports 43 Confirmed Swine Flu Cases; None In Central Texas
The state is reporting 43 confirmed cases of the new strain of swine flu, but the virus has not yet turned up in Central Texas.
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AUSTIN (May 3, 2009)--The Texas Department of State Health Services says there are now 43 confirmed cases of swine flu in the state, but none of them is in Central Texas.
Texas Department of State Health Services spokesman Doug McBride said Sunday the latest number, which is an increase of four from a day earlier, includes two people in Fort Bend County, one from Guadalupe County and one from Bexar County.
The swine flu outbreak has led to the closure of hundreds of schools in Texas, affecting about 350,000 students.
Among the most recent school closures is a suburban Corpus Christi school district, which is shuttering its campuses for one week because of a probable case of the swine flu at Kennedy Elementary School.
Crawford Helms, superintendent of the West Oso school district, said he would re-evaluate the decision on Friday to give the virus a chance to run its course.
Health officials recommended Kennedy Elementary, which has pre-kindergarten though first grade, be closed for 14 days.
It will reopen May 18.
The Kennedy student is one of three probable cases in Nueces County.
Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health officials informed Corpus Christi Independent School District on Friday that a second student at Miller High School tested probable.
Earlier, a 17-year-old Miller High School student was diagnosed as probable, which closed the school.
The Brownsville school district has decided to close its campuses until at least May 12 because of two probable swine flu cases.
The Brownsville Independent School District made the announcement Saturday after a meeting with health officials.
The district said probable cases were found in one student at each of its two elementary schools.
Brownsville is the Rio Grande Valley's largest school district with nearly 50,000 students.
Confirmed Cases By County
Bexar 1
Cameron 1
Collin 1
Comal 2
Dallas 7
Denton 1
Fort Bend 3
Guadalupe 9
Harris 2
Johnson 4
Starr 2
Tarrant 5
Subtotal 38
Non-Texas Residents 5
Total 43
The current virus is described as a new subtype of swine flu or A/H1N1 not previously detected in swine or humans. The virus combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have not seen before.
How Is It Transmitted?
People cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe. No food safety issues have been identified, related to the flu. Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the flu had contact with hogs. The virus is spreading by human-to-human transmission.
Swine Flu Symptoms
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu and include:
Fever
Fatigue
Lack of appetite
Coughing
Runny nose
Sore throat
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
What To Do If You Get Sick
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
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
(CDC)
Steps You Can Take To Stay Healthy
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
Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them
(CDC)
Links And Other Resources
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has a toll-free information line to answer any questions you may have about the swine flu. The number is 1-888-777-5320
World Health Organization Human Swine Influenza Site
Latest Comments
246 cases nationwide = .00000008% of the population 43 in Texas = .0000018% of the population Why is this even newsworthy?
How many people had the common flu over the winter? Why didn't you report on that? Oh, yeah, not the same panic factor on that... even though it has proven more deadly than this strain (and average of 36,000 deaths in the U.S. alone from the common flu, yearly.) Enough already!!!
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