HUDSON—The Columbia County Department of Health has reported a second confirmed case of H1N1 swine flu. The child who had the illness has fully recovered, according to a release from the department issued Friday afternoon, June 5.
The person with county’s first confirmed case, reported last month, has also recovered fully.
Despite the spread of the virus around the world and the news coverage on some deaths attributed to it, many of them in Mexico, local health officials asked the public to keep in mind that this virus usually causes only a “mild illness similar to seasonal flu.” The deaths and cases of serious illness associated with the illness have frequently been in patients that health officials describe as having other, unrelated health problems, including conditions that affect breathing.
The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the state Department of Health do not recommend that physicians request the special test for the H1N1 for cases of mild, flu-like illness unless the patient/patients are hospitalized.
The county health department plans to continue using the emergency preparedness plan already in place that includes increased surveillance, test protocols, education and awareness in conjunction with the state health department, the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) to get the most up-to-date information on the illness.
The state health department reported that as of Thursday, June 4, there were 866 confirmed cases of H1N1 swine flu statewide, with 313 of those cases occurring outside New York City.
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) have been reported with swine flu. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
Public health officials encourage people to consult their primary care physician first if they experience any of the symptoms. Officials also urge people to take reasonable precautions to reduce the risk of getting the flu:
•Wash your hands often
•Avoid close contact with people who are sick
•If possible, stay home from work or school when you are sick
•Cover your cough or sneeze
•Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose.
Columbia County residents can call (518) 828-1212 to reach a hotline as a point of contact for all questions about the H1N1 swine flu only. Residents are also encouraged to visit the following websites for the most current updated information: www.nyhealth.gov, www.cdc.gov , www.who.int and www.columbiacountyny.com.