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Thirty-Four More Cases Of Swine Flu Confirmed In Central Texas
The confirmation of 34 more cases of swine flu pushes the total number of confirmed cases in Central Texas to more than 250.
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5 Comments 
(July 7, 2009)—The Bell County Public Health District said it has confirmed 34 more cases of swine flu in Bell County, pushing the total number of cases in the county to 172 and the total number in Central Texas to more than 250.
The McLennan County Health District confirmed ten cases of swine flu Tuesday.
The most recent state data show 39 confirmed cases in Brazos County, two in Coryell County, one in Falls County, three in Milam County, 34 in Williamson County and two in Hamilton County.
Statewide, about 3,800 cases have been confirmed.
Seventeen deaths are linked to the swine flu, including Pflugerville resident Ron Stowe, 49, who died late last month at Scott & Hospital in Temple.
Stowe was diagnosed with H1N1 flu in mid-June in Round Rock before he was transferred to Temple.
Stowe, a husband of twenty-five years and father of four children, was the fourteenth person to die from the swine flu in Texas.
What Is Swine Flu?
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)
Latest Comments
The CDC and the World Health Organization IWHO) have voiced concern that this virus will return this fall with mutations that will increase virus strength & create MORE school closures &MORE social disruptions. As citizens we should prepare for the fall NOW. If we experience a harder fall pandemic wave, it may effect MORE school closures, and disruptions in services we take for granted in our daily schedules (sick workers making for people home who usually are not home, or stores w/ less workers). You will want to eliminate trips out in public, so these extra food stocks will help you get through that period of time. Keep in mind that while the CDC is suggesting that you stock about 2-weeks of food, water and meds in your home, a 'pandemic' wave of illness can last many more weeks. It would be prudent to use this time to gather 2 weeks, and then increase that home-supply as you can afford. Use canned goods and add pastas to stretch the canned soups, etc. to make a larger meal w/ less
Me...am suggesting that people follow the guidelines of the CDC. I think that people need to realize that their lives are not more important than others. While we do have the flu every year and most get through it just fine there are others like the elderly, small children and people with other disorders that are more likely to have complications. So by saying this, I mean.....if you have been diagnosed with this form of flu and you knowingly go out and spread it to others because you selfishly couldn't stay home I think you should be held accountable for it.
Anonymous, are you suggesting quarantines? I certainly hope not.
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