CARROLL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

 

SWINE FLU UPDATE – 30 April 2009

 

Cases of confirmed Swine Flu as of 10:30 am 30 April 2009 (Source: CDC)

 

1        Arizona

14      California

1        Indiana

2        Kansas

2        Massachusetts

1        Michigan

1        Nevada

50      New York

1        Ohio

10      South Carolina (new)

26      Texas

 

109     TOTAL

 

Confirmed Swine Flu Deaths

 

1    Texas

 

Other Notes:

  • WHO’s Global Pandemic Phase has been raised to FIVE, up from FOUR yesterday.  FIVE means that there are larger clusters (Phase Four is small clusters) but human to human spread is still localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible.  (Phase SIX, full pandemic, is the highest).  As per CDC, A Phase FIVE alert is a “strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and the time to finalize the organization, communication and implementation of the planned mitigation is short.”
  • Late yesterday there was reported six probable cases in Maryland.  A probable case is an individual with flu-like symptoms who has a recent history of travel to an area affected by swine flu or contact with another person who has.  Of the six cases, three are from Anne Arundel County and the other three are from Baltimore County.  DHMH and CDC are testing their throat samples to confirm Swine Flu (or not).  All patients  are recovering from their illness and none have been hospitalized.  Five of the patients have been epidemiologically linked to Mexico
  • Irrespective of the WHO’s Phase FIVE the current Swine Flu is very mild, so even a Phase SIX proclamation would not be a serious issue; a virulent version of the virus would be a completely different matter.
  • Despite some of the political/diplomatic sensitivity to the current use of the term “Swine Flu,” it will continue to appear as such in these updates.

 

CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATION FOR A CARROLL COUNTY RESPONSE:

  • In light of the 6 Maryland probable cases, educational systems in Carroll County may want to begin planning for possible school closures, if they already have not done so.  From a public health perspective, a confirmed case of the flu in a school would indicate a closure, which could last seven days or more.  This would especially be important in the elementary schools where parents would have to arrange for full time baby-sitting services or take off from work.