Six more cases of swine flu suspected in King County
Six more suspected cases of influenza A/H1N1, “swine flu”, have been identified in King County, bringing the total number of suspected cases in the county to 22.
Laboratory samples have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention for confirmation.
To date, most of the illnesses thought to be due to the new virus have been similar to flu illnesses caused by the seasonal influenza virus that typically passes through the community every winter, said Dr. David Fleming, director & health officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County.
Because the virus is now circulating widely in the community, the county will no longer recommend that schools be closed when a student or a staff member is diagnosed with the infection.
Instead, parents are being encouraged to keep their children at home should they develop flu symptoms and schools will monitor children looking for those with flu symptoms. Children with symptoms will be sent home.
Worldwide, 20 countries have officially reported 985 cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports today.
Mexico has reported 590 laboratory confirmed cases, including 25 deaths. In the U.S. 226 laboratory confirmed cases and one death have been reported.
WHO reports that following countries have laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Austria (1), Canada (85), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Costa Rica (1), Colombia (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (2), Germany (8), Ireland (1), Israel (3), Italy (1), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (4), Republic of Korea (1), Spain (40), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (15)
Photo Credit: C. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDC
For more information about Swine flu:
Swine Flu and You
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm (English)
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/espanol/influenza_porcina_usted.htm (Espanol)
Facts about Swine Flu
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm (English)
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/espanol/swine_espanol.htm (Espanol)
Preventing the Flu
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_internal_003 (English)
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/espanol/habits.htm (Espanol)
Latest news from CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ (English)
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/espanol/ (Espanol)
Symptoms and precautions from the Washington State Department of Health
English (PDF)
Spanish (PDF)
Chinese (PDF)
Korean (PDF)
Russian (PDF)
Vietnamese (PDF)
Large type (PDF)
Related posts:
- 787 cases of influenza A/H1N1 diagnosed worldwide 16 suspected cases in King County
- Ten cases of probable H1N1 swine flu now identified in King County
- Number of swine flu cases hits 160 nationwide; 11 suspected, but unconfirmed cases in King County
- CDC outlines swine flu response in video
- Swine Flu tips in Spanish from the CDC
