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Health advisory: Probable Swine Flu Cases in King County
April 30, 2009
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ACTION REQUESTED:
- Be aware of three cases of probable swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) in King County
- Report all cases of influenza-like illness in a student or staff at Madrona Elementary School to Public Health at (206) 296-4774. Madrona elementary school will be closed starting today, reopening on 5/7/09
- Use new CDC criteria for suspected cases of S-OIV: a person with acute febrile respiratory illness with onset
- within 7 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of S-OIV infection, or
- within 7 days of travel to community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed cases of S-OIV infection, or
- resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed cases of S-OIV infection
- King, Snohomish, and Spokane counties all are areas with probable S-OIV cases. For increased surveillance, patients with ILI in these areas should have NP swabs send to WA DOH for S-OIV testing. These recommendations will likely change after confirmation that person to person SOIV transmission is occurring.
- For testing and treatment decisions, continue to consider the severity of illness, potential for severe complications, and potential for spread to others at risk for severe complications. Otherwise healthy patients with ILI who would not ordinarily be evaluated or tested should not be treated differently.
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Yesterday, three probable cases of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) were identified in King County. The laboratory samples have been sent to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Public Health - Seattle & King County is awaiting final confirmation. The three King County residents with include a male student at Madrona elementary school who was hospitalized and is improving, a Seattle male in his 20’s who was not hospitalized and is improving, and a Seattle woman in her 30’s who was not hospitalized and is improving. None had a history of travel to Mexico or another community where swine influenza transmission is occurring, and possibly were infected by undetected cases of swine-origin influenza virus. Students and staff at Madrona elementary school are being given the following instructions:
- Do not gather in settings outside of school during the week that school is closed to avoid spreading infection.
- Students and staff who do not develop symptoms do not need to see a healthcare provider.
- People who become ill with fever and cough or sore throat should avoid contact with others and remain at home from work and school for 7 days after illness onset and for a full day after the illness is over, whichever is longer.
- It is not necessary to see a health care provider if symptoms are mild. If symptoms are more severe, call your health care provider to discuss if you need to be seen and evaluated and tell your healthcare provider about the school closure for a swine flu case. Updated information on this rapidly evolving situation will be sent through alerts and updated on our website as it becomes available.
To subscribe to receive e-mail and/or fax health alerts from Public Health, contact Maybelle Tamura at 206-296-4774 or Maybelle.Tamura@kingcounty.gov |
