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Local health officials are keeping an eye on the spread of the swine flu virus Date published: 4/28/2009
BY JIM HALL Watchful waiting may be the best way to describe the reaction of local health officials to the declaration of a national health emergency Sunday and the emergence of swine flu cases in the U.S. and Mexico. Virginia Department of Health officials met by telephone Sunday and in local offices again yesterday to review the latest developments. For now, they've decided to make sure local doctors know about the outbreak and to ask that they be on the lookout for the disease. "We're looking at this as a marathon, not a sprint," said Dr. David Wilder, acting director of the Rappahannock Area Health District, yesterday. "It would be great if in a few weeks it just dies out for whatever reason," he said. "But it could continue." Yesterday local doctors received a copy of the "health alert" that Dr. Karen Remley issued Friday night. Remley, the state health commissioner, asked providers to arrange for the testing of nasal swab from any patient with flu-like symptoms who has traveled recently to the affected areas. Wilder said his office has ordered additional test kits for local physicians. "We're not testing everybody that has flu-like symptoms," Wilder said. "But if somebody traveled to one of the affected areas, we'd certainly want that to be done." Remley listed areas of California, Texas and Mexico where cases of swine flu have been confirmed. As of yesterday afternoon, the list had grown to include New York, Ohio and Kansas. No cases have been reported in Virginia. Remley told doctors that the current outbreak is caused by a virus not previously seen in humans or animals. She said symptoms are similar to symptoms of seasonal flu: fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, sore throat and nasal congestion. "The thing you really want to check out is the travel history, and not just your travel history but the travel history of others that you've been in contact with," Wilder said. Dr. Christopher Harrington, a local family practitioner, said yesterday that he always asks sick people about their travel history. "We tend to have a mobile society in this area," he said. Harrington also said he treated sick people yesterday who asked about swine flu. "People are curious and asking," he said. A spokeswoman for Mary Washington Hospital said yesterday that the staff there is monitoring announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gov. Tim Kaine said yesterday that Virginia has a stockpile of 770,000 courses of antiviral medication and will be receiving an additional 280,000 courses from the CDC this week. Local Health Department officials also will meet next week with emergency workers in the region to review the 3-year-old pandemic flu plan. The plan provides for the distribution of medicine and vaccine in case of widespread sickness. Health Department workers practice that possibility each year by staging free flu-shot clinics. Jim Hall: 540/374-5433
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 4/28/2009
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