State steps up watchfulness with possible case of swine flu
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and state health officials this morning (April 29) spoke of a heightened wariness by state officials regarding swine flu (H1N1) with a possible case of the flu temporarily closing two schools in Cold Spring.
Pawlenty spoke of taking “an abundance of caution.”
A sample of the Minnesota virus has been sent to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for verification — lab results are expected within a day.
According to the CDC website, some ten states so far have reported 91 cases of swine flu with one death reported.
The Minnesota flu victim is expected to fully recovery.
The CDC points out that the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of the season flu: fever, coughing, loss of appetite, tiredness.
Both the CDC and state officials point out that seasonal flu killed some 36,000 people in the United States last year.
The CDC notes that two of the licensed anti-viral drugs have been shown effective in treating the current swine flu virus — these virus constantly change, they note.
As for the effectiveness of wearing masks or other breathing devices as a preventative step, the CDC opines that its effectiveness cannot be determined because of a lack of information.
Swine flu cannot be contracted by eating pork.
The CDC, the governor, points to basic hygenic practices, such as washing hands, keeping fingers out of eyes and mouth, a good precautions in avoiding contracting illness.
