Turlock Journal Article

By Mike Gale, Turlock Journal Staff Writer
last updated: May 6, 2009

Cases of the H1N1 influenza, or "swine flu," have increased, but health officials are discovering the virus is similar to seasonal flu.

"When we look at this outbreak on a national level and the state of California, (the virus) appears (to be) behaving like seasonal influenza," said Dr. John Walker, Stanislaus County Health Officer. "Although it's a novel virus."

So far, there have not been any confirmed cases in Stanislaus County.

Currently, there is no vaccine available to protect against H1N1 Influenza, prompting health officials to take an aggressive approach in documenting cases of the virus and staying in contact with other medical and health officials throughout the state.

"We have to protect our high risk residents," said Walker, who noted young children, pregnant women, residents with chronic illness, and the elderly are most susceptible.

As of Friday, the median age of infected patients was 17.5.

"It does appear to be younger people who have been the cases thus far," Walker said. "That may change with the latest cases."

County officials submitted at least 80 specimens to specialized labs and received results on 70 of them. None were positive for the H1N1 virus. There was, however, eight positive results for seasonal influenza.

"Even in May, there're still cases of seasonal influenza," Walker said. "That's not uncommon."

As of noon Tuesday, there were 99 confirmed cases of H1N1 virus in the state, with 119 "probables" for a total of 218. Thirteen patients have been hospitalized.

Sacramento County reported at least one confirmed case. There are reports of probable cases from Madera, Tulare, and San Joaquin counties.

"We're still very much on alert," Walker said. "But increasingly, it appears to have a lot of similarities to seasonal flu."

According to the World Health Organization, the number of confirmed swine flu cases worldwide has increased to 1,490 in 23 countries, most of them in Mexico and the United States. That number includes 822 confirmed cases in Mexico, including 29 deaths.

WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Keiji Fukuda said 405 cases worldwide and four deaths in Mexico have been confirmed.

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced that a woman from Cameron County, the southernmost county in the state, died earlier this week after contracting swine flu. The Texas health department said she had "chronic underlying health conditions" but did not elaborate or provide any other details on the woman.

County health officials are still encouraging residents to take common sense steps to protect themselves from the H1N1 virus.

Also, If someone becomes ill and experiences any of the following warning signs, he or she should 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.

People over 50 years of age or with a chronic disease should receive the pneumococcal vaccine. If you are worried about your symptoms, call your health care provider.

Turlock Journal staff writer Mike Gale can be reached at mgale@turlockjournal.com or 634-9141 ext. 2003.