Broward County Health Department officials announced today a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-confirmed case of the Swine Flu. The individual has been given the appropriate medication and is well at home.
What is emerging in Florida and around the United States is that infections with this virus seem widespread, but also generally mild. “At this time, after reviewing the current situation, and according to the CDC recommendations, Broward County Health Department is moving to community control measures,” said Dr. Paula Thaqi, Director of the Broward County Health Department.
The appropriate measures for the current situation include:
· Advising individuals with symptoms to remain at home;
· Advising household contacts to be vigilant for symptoms;
· Consider closure of a specific school, if a confirmed case is identified in that school.
“We do not recommend any other community or workplace measures at this time,” said Dr. Thaqi. The symptoms of Swine Flu in people are similar to the symptoms of Seasonal Flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with Swine Flu. Like seasonal influenza, the Swine Flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.
Broward County Health Department officials offer these recommendations for residents and visitors:
· As always, people with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid
spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community;
· Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill;
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
· Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness;
· People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting,
should contact their physician/health care provider;
· Cough or sneeze into a tissue or into your upper sleeve, not your hands and put your
used tissue in the waste basket;
· If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether
you need to be seen.
The Swine Flu virus is not transmitted by food and a person cannot get Swine Flu from eating pork products. The infections appear to spread from person to person. Broward County Health Department is receiving frequent updates from the Department of Health and the CDC, and is actively monitoring the situation. More information is provided at:
Broward County Health Department
www.browardchd.org,
24 hour Information Line: (954) 467-4700
Florida Department of Health
www.doh.state.fl.us
1-800-342-3557
Hotline open 8AM to 8PM
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/swineflu
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