Cases of swine flu confirmed in South Georgia

Several cases of the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu, have been confirmed in South Georgia in the last few days.

Eight airmen at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta have been diagnosed with the virus. The airmen recently returned from training in Savannah and fell ill. They tested positive for the virus and have been sent home to recuperate. None of the airmen are believed to be in any danger or to pose a danger to the community.

A 12-year-old boy and a 40-year-old man, both in Thomas County, were earlier identified as the first confirmed cases of H1N1 in Southwest Health District.

“They came in separately and the cases do not appear to be related at this time, but we are early in our investigation,” said Southwest Health District Epidemiologist Jacqueline Jenkins. The onset of the child’s illness was Friday, June 19, while the adult became ill on Saturday, June 20.

Both received treatment from the same healthcare provider, who submitted samples for testing, Jenkins said.

“Both of them had classic symptoms of the infection — a spiked temperature and nausea and vomiting in the boy and cough and sore throat in the man,” she said.

Family members of both patients are receiving antivirals and disease investigators are following up to see if others in contact with either of them are experiencing symptoms, said Southwest Health District Health Director Jacqueline Grant. Additional cases are likely to be confirmed as the investigation continues.

“We know that there are cases of Influenza A in Thomas County and elsewhere in our district, and H1N1 is a strain of Influenza A,” Grant said. “Like the rest of Georgia — and the nation — we are seeing higher levels of influenza-like illness than is normal for this time of year.”

Southwest Health District Public Information Officer Carolyn Maschke said many cases of H1N1 virus in Georgia were reported at summer camps, especially in north Georgia. Prior to the two confirmed cases in Thomas County, the closest confirmed virus location was two cases in Laurens County.

As of June 25, Georgia had 65 reported confirmed cases of H1N1, Grant said. About 90 percent of all influenza viruses being reported nationally have been the H1N1 strain, citing CDC (National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) data.

“So it will come as no surprise to us if more area patients have been infected with the new strain,” Grant said. If isolated cases of H1N1 crop up in the area, there will be no need to close camps or schools or restrict travel.

“Measures as drastic as that would be appropriate if clusters of the illness appeared, or if the virus becomes more virulent,” Grant said. “In the United States, most people who have become ill with it have recovered without requiring medical treatment.”

On June 11, the World Health Organization declared that an H1N1 pandemic was under way, based on the geographic spread of the disease rather than its severity. However, public health officials are concerned that the virus could mutate to a more virulent form and roar back when seasonal flu returns. It has been confirmed in every U.S. state and territory and in more than 70 countries.

“We are continuing to monitor H1N1 closely, to educate partners and the public about it and to prepare ourselves and urge others to prepare in the event H1N1 surges in a second, more severe wave in October,” Grant said. “While we hope a vaccine will be available by then, there is no guarantee. So we are emphasizing that individuals have an important role in protecting themselves and their families.”

Maschke said a mutation of the virus appearing in Brazil is being monitored to see if such a mutation happens here. A concern is that someone can have two forms on the flu virus at the same time, and the H1N1 protein can combine with the other form and cause possible antiviral resistance.

For now the best defense is to continue practicing tried-and-true measures that help prevent the spread of any infectious disease:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

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