As of this morning, there is still only one confirmed case of swine flu (H1N1 virus) in the Lake Tahoe area.
Martha Framsted, public information officer for the Nevada State Health Division confirmed the first known case of swine flu in Washoe County, Nevada. The case is in a two-year-old girl. According to health department spokesperson Judy Davis, she lives in Reno, has not been hospitalized and is recovering. A two month old child, living in the girl's household, has been diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to the hospital. This second child is also being tested for swine flu.
In a conversation with Judy Davis, of the Washoe County Health department, Davis stated that it was her understanding that the child had not traveled to an area known to be affected by swine flu.
At the forefront of the Nevada swine flu watch is Director of the Division of Epidemiology for Washoe County District Health Department in Nevada, Randall Todd. According to Todd, the girl attended a Washoe County day care center. While the name of that preschool was not, at the time of this article, disclosed. It was later disclosed that the sick 2 year old attended Fundamentals Preschool, in Reno, Nevada.
In the event a Swine Flu outbreak does occur, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of the antiviral medications, Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) or Relenza (zanamivir). While it is believe the virus is sensitive to these antivirials, there is no certainty they are effective against the swine flu. The CDC points out,
If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious influenza complications. Influenza antiviral drugs work best when started soon after illness onset (within two 2 days), but treatment with antiviral drugs should still be considered after 48 hours of symptom onset, particularly for hospitalized
patients or people at high risk for influenza-related
complications.Influenza antiviral drugs also can be used to prevent
influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with swine influenza. When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective. When used for prevention, the number of days that they should be used will vary depending on a person’s
particular situation.
If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious influenza complications. Influenza antiviral drugs work best when started soon after illness onset (within two 2 days), but treatment with antiviral drugs should still be considered after 48 hours of symptom onset, particularly for hospitalized patients or people at high risk for influenza-related complications.Influenza antiviral drugs also can be used to prevent influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with swine influenza. When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective. When used for prevention, the number of days that they should be used will vary depending on a person’s particular situation.
Ms. Framsted stated that the State of Nevada presently has its own supply of these antiviral medications which, "are stored in an undisclosed location." The state currently has 108,000 courses of Tamiflu treatments and 29,000 courses of Relenza treatments.
A CDC spokesperson confirmed this morning that the CDC Division of Strategic National Stockpile (DSNS) has been given the authority from HHS and CDC leadership to initiate shipment of materiel for the swine flu influenza outbreak. This division of the CDC is currently releasing 25% of its stockpile of antiviral medications, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices for distribution to all 50 states.
Within the next week, or less, Framsted expects an antiviral medication shipment from the CDC to Nevada. Nevada will receive, from the CDC, 60,000 to 67,000 courses of Tamiflu treatments and 18,900 courses of Relenza treatments. The State of Nevada will distribute the above antiviral medication, Framsted also confirmed, according to population, with 75% going to Southern Nevada and 25% going to Northern Nevada.
Symptoms of the Swine Flu are similar to other flu bugs. It is highly contagious and fever and coughing are the two most common symptoms but they can also include headache, chills, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue as well as throat irritation. The swine flu does appear to respond to flu treatments, like Tamiflu.
The CDC provides guidance for those caring for someone with Swine Flu, at home. Children displaying the following symptoms need urgent medical attention: Fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held , flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough, fever with a rash.
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness confusion severe or persistent vomiting.
Nevada gets heavy tourist traffic from around the world, but Rick Eaton, state homeland security director, said there are no travel restrictions at this time. Janet Napolitano, head of the federal Homeland Security Department, has said travel warnings for trips to Mexico would remain as long as swine flu is detected.
To protect yourself and your family from getting sick, the Nevada State Health Division suggests you should wash your hands, try to stay in good general health, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious food, try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
The State of Nevada established a hotline, staffed by bilingual public health professionals, to answer general questions about the H1N1 virus:
Phone number: 866.767.5038 Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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