California combats spread of swine flu
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Students and teachers have become ill. A few schools are even closing for fear the swine flu will take hold of their campuses.
These are the first signs of a state coming to grips with a disease that has affected thousands south of the border and threatens to spread to thousands more across America.
With 149 suspected swine flu deaths in Mexico -- where schools have been closed nationwide -- the disease has captured international attention, but California officials are trying to inform the public without causing a scare. While 48 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the United States and 13 in California, none have been fatal.
"So far, the disease has been fairly mild and like any influenza season, we expect this to last for weeks as we move along and find out more about this virus," said Dr. Bonnie Sorensen, chief deputy director of the California Department of Public Health.
These are the first signs of a state coming to grips with a disease that has affected thousands south of the border and threatens to spread to thousands more across America.
With 149 suspected swine flu deaths in Mexico -- where schools have been closed nationwide -- the disease has captured international attention, but California officials are trying to inform the public without causing a scare. While 48 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the United States and 13 in California, none have been fatal.
"So far, the disease has been fairly mild and like any influenza season, we expect this to last for weeks as we move along and find out more about this virus," said Dr. Bonnie Sorensen, chief deputy director of the California Department of Public Health.
San Diego and Imperial counties have seen five confirmed cases each of
swine flu, said Dr. Gil Chavez, deputy director for the state Center
for Infectious Disease. Sacramento County has three confirmed cases.
Other cases the state is investigating include two "clusters" of patients with influenza-like symptoms in Santa Clarita, Calif. Those test results are expected to come back later this
week.
Most of California's cases came in counties along the U.S.-Mexico border but officials said the first seven cases reported did not appear to be connected directly to Mexico. All the victims said they did not travel to Mexico, nor did relatives from that country visit recently.
At the San Ysidro border crossing where about 40,000 vehicles enter the U.S. daily from Tijuana, some who crossed on foot wore surgical masks.
Sid Diaz, 76, from Indian Wells, Calif., did not let swine flu fears interfere with a cross-border dental appointment; Diaz wore a mask while visiting Tijuana to pay $300 for a gold filling.
The same dental work costs $1,100 in the U.S.
"Everyone told me not to come," he said. "I'll take a chance, if I can save about $800."
Sacramento County officials reported Monday night that two more seventh-graders from St. Mel School in Fair Oaks have tested positive for swine flu, making three students in all from the school.
Tests on a fourth student, who reported feeling ill after a vacation in Mexico, came back negative Monday night.
All of the students' symptoms are mild. The 275-student school will be closed until at least Thursday.
An unconfirmed illness involving a student at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Claremont led to students being sent home early Monday for disinfection of the campus in eastern Los Angeles County.
A private school in Mira Mesa was also closed after six teachers became ill, San Diego County health officials said. Tests were being conducted to determine if the teachers contracted swine flu.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said schools were safe. He said there was no need to close schools in California because of the small number of cases compared to the state's nearly 6.3 million students.
"We're taking precautionary steps, working closely with families, with parents," he said, adding that hand-washing was being promoted to students and parents.
Doctor's offices and clinics fielded extra calls Monday from panicked patients, while airports took precautions to ensure passengers weren't spreading the sickness.
Los Angeles International Airport spokeswoman Katherine Alvarado said the airport was posting signs with sanitation and public health tips. Restrooms were being sanitized twice an hour, with special attention paid to door knobs and handles.
- The Associated Press
Other cases the state is investigating include two "clusters" of patients with influenza-like symptoms in Santa Clarita, Calif. Those test results are expected to come back later this
week.
Most of California's cases came in counties along the U.S.-Mexico border but officials said the first seven cases reported did not appear to be connected directly to Mexico. All the victims said they did not travel to Mexico, nor did relatives from that country visit recently.
At the San Ysidro border crossing where about 40,000 vehicles enter the U.S. daily from Tijuana, some who crossed on foot wore surgical masks.
Sid Diaz, 76, from Indian Wells, Calif., did not let swine flu fears interfere with a cross-border dental appointment; Diaz wore a mask while visiting Tijuana to pay $300 for a gold filling.
The same dental work costs $1,100 in the U.S.
"Everyone told me not to come," he said. "I'll take a chance, if I can save about $800."
Sacramento County officials reported Monday night that two more seventh-graders from St. Mel School in Fair Oaks have tested positive for swine flu, making three students in all from the school.
Tests on a fourth student, who reported feeling ill after a vacation in Mexico, came back negative Monday night.
All of the students' symptoms are mild. The 275-student school will be closed until at least Thursday.
An unconfirmed illness involving a student at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Claremont led to students being sent home early Monday for disinfection of the campus in eastern Los Angeles County.
A private school in Mira Mesa was also closed after six teachers became ill, San Diego County health officials said. Tests were being conducted to determine if the teachers contracted swine flu.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said schools were safe. He said there was no need to close schools in California because of the small number of cases compared to the state's nearly 6.3 million students.
"We're taking precautionary steps, working closely with families, with parents," he said, adding that hand-washing was being promoted to students and parents.
Doctor's offices and clinics fielded extra calls Monday from panicked patients, while airports took precautions to ensure passengers weren't spreading the sickness.
Los Angeles International Airport spokeswoman Katherine Alvarado said the airport was posting signs with sanitation and public health tips. Restrooms were being sanitized twice an hour, with special attention paid to door knobs and handles.
- The Associated Press
When this happens the person's immune system overreacts to the totally new flu virus and actually attacks the body's healthy organs and systems - that makes the healthy approximately 15 to 60 year old individual the most likely to actually succumb to the flu.
Because this cytokine storm phenomena is generally rare it is also not well understood. Cytokines are similar to hormones and are used by the body to communicate between cells, mostly on a local basis.
A cytokine storm can overwhelm the nervous system and cause breathing problems which is why hospitals put critical flu patients on assisted breathing machines.
The fact that most hospitals only have a few of these and they are often in use for surgical or other critical patients is what really frightens experts in the pandemic field.
Even in advanced countries with a strong hospital system, there is simply no way to provide interim support for tens of thousands of pandemic flu victims - the equipment just doesn't exist to put them all on breathing machines until their bodies are able to recover naturally.
In addition to decades as a science reporter, John A. McCormick has worked for years as a local emergency management coordinator (now retired) and has advised facilities and municipalities on preparations for a flu pandemic.
And The Messiah Obama still says, "...no cause for alarm" and "there's no reason to close our border [with Mexico]." What an idiot. Now, 2 deaths in the Los Angeles area being investigated, other cases as close to the Inland Empire as Claremont. How many have to die before the Wise One says, "Well, okay. Maybe sealing the border would be a good idea." Jeez.
Thank you for the useful information sara. Usually these comment boards are full of ignorance and hatred. It's good to see such an informative post.
Not only are the borders wide open - flights are still being allowed in from Mexico and passengers are not being screened. I have heard personal reports from lugardia NY workers that people wearing masks departed a plane arriving from Mexico with passengers wearing masks and were not even checked. Then the plane was allowed to depart without being dissenfected.
This is another example of Govt incompetence - wait till they nationalize our health care system.
We are #*@%&!.
WE MUST ROUND UP ALL MEXICANS LEGAL AND ILLEGAL, SINCE THE SWINE FLU-IS A PIG/MEXICAN COMBO TACO,SALAD, AND NUKE MEXICO CITY, AND PRAY ANOTHER EARTHQUAKES,FINISHES THE FILTHY MEXICAN CULTURE OFF,FOR AN ETERNITY,AND STOP ALL WELFARE MEXICAN CHOLOS,FROM THE TAXPAYRES,.AND FIRE EVERY GOVERNMENT WORKER WHO IS MEXICAN, SINCE ITS A SPECIFIC MEXICAN-CA-CA DISEASE,MADE FOR MEXICANS, BY GOD, AND FEMA, CAMPS,SEND THE GANGBANGERS, AND DRUG CARTELS, SINCE MEXICANS ARE SILENT, ON THE SUBJECT,AND SEND ALL lOS aNGEELS,MEXICANS TO hell!
Yes we are combating the swine flu...AKA: Arnie
who are you to say any thing about another person. why don't you go back where you came from sara! stop acting like all mexicans are bad remember all colors of race are what you say are gangbangers, sell drugs, on welfare oh my bad they are called skin heads! do all of us a favor and SHUT UP!!! you are so stupid! and what do you mean, are families are born here. we did not come on a boat!