Recent alarm over swine flu may be unwarranted

Now that school's back in session, public health officials say they are flooded with calls from concerned parents and residents fearful of the spread of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu.

Though there were three confirmed cases of swine flu in the Doniphan School District reported this week, there may be more alarm about the virus than is actually warranted, said Charlotte Craig, registered nurse and executive director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

Although influenza should always be regarded with concern, the results of the spread of the swine flu virus have been thus far less severe than was anticipated, Craig said.

"While very communicable, it doesn't seem to be knocking people down in great numbers," Craig said.

Seasonal flu typically causes 30,000 to 40,000 annual deaths, mainly among people over 65 according to an Associated Press report, but Craig said the H1N1 virus doesn't seem to have risen to the level where it poses significantly more of a lethal threat than any of the other strains of influenza.

Craig said health officials have been meeting frequently to discuss the issue and working closely with schools to advise them of how to respond in the case of an outbreak.

"People are concerned; it's only natural because they've heard about it so much," said Jane Wernsman, assistant director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

Area schools have taken the initiative when it comes to making emergency plans and educating faculty as much as possible about swine flu virus, said public health nurse Vanessa Landers.

Craig said medical professionals and health officials are bracing themselves for a rush of influenza cases and have been instructed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to handle each one as though it could be swine flu, because there are differences in the treatment prescribed for swine flu versus the way other flu strains are treated, Wernsman said.

So far, younger children and pregnant women seem to be especially susceptible to the H1N1 virus, Craig said.

Older adults may have stronger immune systems that have already built up more of an immunity to the virus, she said.

One of the biggest threats of the swine flu is that it is new, and people haven't had time to build up an immunity against it, Craig said.

Health officials recommend starting flu immunizations as early as possible this season.

In addition, good hygiene practices are always the best safeguard against the flu during any flu season, particularly proper handwashing with antibacterial soap and making sure to cover up a cough or sneeze, Craig said.

"I just can't tell you how important they are," Craig said.

Wernsman stressed that anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, nausea or diarrhea, should stay home from work or school and avoid infecting others as much as possible until they have gone 24 hours without a fever.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, 1121 Linden St., Cape Girardeau, M