Pinal County’s Public Health Services District has activated its Public Health Incident Command Center in light of recent developments with the swine flu. This is only a precautionary measure to help coordinate the county’s response to the rapidly evolving situation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating cases of febrile respiratory illness caused by swine influenza A H1N1 viruses. As of 5/12/09 11:00 AM, there are 187 cases of H1N1 flu in Arizona! “Prevention is a key component to disease control,” says Tom Schryer, Director of Pinal County Public Health. “One of the best things you can do is to frequently wash your hands with soap and warm running water for at least 15 to 30 seconds. When soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers provide a good alternative. In order for a hand sanitizer to be able to kill germs, it must contain alcohol as an ingredient. Avoid products that contain less than 60% alcohol or no alcohol at all.”

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to other forms of influenza and can include sore throat, coughing, fever, chills, fatigue or head and body aches. Diarrhea and vomiting may also occur. Health officials are estimating that people could be regarded as infectious (able to make others sick) from one day prior to the development of symptoms and remain infectious for seven days or more.

If you do become ill, it is important to stay home, minimize your contact with others, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Frequent hand washing and staying home while sick will help prevent spreading the disease to others. If you become severely ill, contact your healthcare provider. Be sure to notify your provider in advance that you suspect you may be infected with the swine flu.

Laboratory confirmed cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) infection have been confirmed in several states including Arizona. Cases of respiratory illness in Mexico have also tested positive for swine influenza.

Arizona Health Officials have been monitoring the situation very closely and urge all healthcare providers to be on the lookout for an increase in patients with flu-like symptoms. The website for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extensive information on its website that may be helpful to understanding the swine flu and its symptoms: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.

For more information on swine flu disease please call the Pinal County Citizen Contact Center at 1-888-431-1311, or the Pinal County Public Health Services District Information Hotline at 1-866-763-7252 or visit http://www.pinalcountyaz.gov.

To view the cases currently identified in the US and Arizona, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.