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From the San Bernardino City Fire Department:

Additional cases of Swine Flu have been reported in the United States and Mexico. The San Bernardino City Fire Department is issuing this announcement to provide information on these events and endorse the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the CA Department of Public Health.

* As of April 29, 2009, fourteen CA residents have been diagnosed with confirmed swine Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection. All have recovered.
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There are 77 more cases confirmed from nine other states, totaling 91 cases in the U.S. including one death.
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Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a common respiratory disease of pigs, but it doesn't normally infect humans. Human cases have occurred, however, most commonly among people with direct exposure to pigs.
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You cannot get swine flu from eating pork.
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There is no vaccine to protect people from swine flu.
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The public does not need to take any unusual precautions at this time, other than what they would do for normal seasonal influenza.
o Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
o Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
o Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
o Stay home and limit contact with others if you're sick.

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people with swine flu also have reported vomiting and diarrhea.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as a fever over 100 degrees with a cough or sore throat, please consult with your medical provider.

For more information about swine influenza, you can access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's web page on swine influenza at www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/index.htm

This is a evolving situation and we will continue to provide updated guidance and new information as it becomes available.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the swine flu strain that's dominated the news in recent days may be "relatively mild."

Here's an excerpt:

"As the World Health Organization raised its infectious disease alert level Wednesday and health officials confirmed the first death linked to swine flu inside U.S. borders, scientists studying the virus are coming to the consensus that this hybrid strain of influenza -- at least in its current form -- isn't shaping up to be as fatal as the strains that caused some previous pandemics.

"In fact, the current outbreak of the H1N1 virus, which emerged in San Diego and southern Mexico late last month, may not even do as much damage as the run-of-the-mill flu outbreaks that occur each winter without much fanfare.

"'Let's not lose track of the fact that the normal seasonal influenza is a huge public health problem that kills tens of thousands of people in the U.S. alone and hundreds of thousands around the world," said Dr. Christopher Olsen, a molecular virologist who studies swine flu at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison.

"His remarks Wednesday came the same day Texas authorities announced that a nearly 2-year-old boy with the virus had died in a Houston hospital Monday.

"'Any time someone dies, it's heartbreaking for their families and friends,' Olsen said. "But we do need to keep this in perspective.'

"Flu viruses are known to be notoriously unpredictable, and this strain could mutate at any point -- becoming either more benign or dangerously severe. But mounting preliminary evidence from genetics labs, epidemiology models and simple mathematics suggests that the worst-case scenarios are likely to be avoided in the current outbreak.

"'This virus doesn't have anywhere near the capacity to kill like the 1918 virus,' which claimed an estimated 50 million victims worldwide, said Richard Webby, a leading influenza virologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn."

Commenters:

Please do not use the blogs to post rumors about who may or may not have come down with the swine flu. We don't want to scare people with unconfirmed reports.

Stay well,

SB Now

SWINE FLU HEALTH ALERT
San Bernardino - There have been seven confirmed human cases of Swine Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in San Diego County and Imperial County, California. An additional thirty-three cases have been confirmed in five states in the U.S., including New York, Ohio, Kansas, and Texas. There are no known links between these patients, no known common exposures and no known pig exposure. The ages ranged from 7 to 54 years old. Their illness has been mild and all have recovered.

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection were initially identified in Mexico which has reported more severe illness, including deaths. Now other nations around the world are reporting cases of the virus, as well.

"No cases of this virus have been identified in San Bernardino County at this time," stated Health Officer Maxwell Ohikhuare, M.D., with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health.

The Department is conducting enhanced surveillance of health care providers in the County to identify potential human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, and is sending them a health alert with clinician guidelines. The Department Emergency Operation Center has also been activated at a level one to more closely monitor developments during regular business hours.

Swine influenza (swine flu) is a common respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus, typically H1N1 and H3N2 strains. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans. Occasional human infections with swine flu do occur, but usually in persons with direct exposure to pigs. It has not been determined how easily this virus spreads between people. The current situation in California suggests that human to human transmission may be occurring. You can not get the infection from eating pork or any products made with pork.

Seasonal human influenza vaccine usually does not protect against swine influenza A H1N1 viruses, which is a very different strain. Since there is no vaccine available at this
time, Dr. Ohikhuare recommends that people take the following normal precautions to prevent the spread of disease to others:

• 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.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

People who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their health care provider. These medical professionals will decide if influenza testing is needed.

The Department will continue to closely monitor the situation and will provide more information to the public, as needed. For more details on swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, call the County Department of Public Health at 1-800-782-4264. You can also access the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/flu/swine or call 1-800-CDC-INFO. Further information is available from the California Department of Public Health website at www.cdph.ca.gov.