Jackson County Health Department officials in coordination with Altus Air Force Base officials announced today that a case of 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) virus has been confirmed in Jackson County.
The patient is an adult female who did not require hospitalization.
“Jackson County residents should not be alarmed,” said County Health Department Administrator Keith Reed. “Altus Air Force Base and our health department have been monitoring this case to limit exposure to others while confirmatory tests were pending. Base officials along with our staff have been interviewing individuals who have been in contact with the patient to determine if they should be tested also,” Reed added.
The symptoms of H1N1 influenza are similar to seasonal influenza and include fever greater than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, sore throat, respiratory congestion, and in some cases, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
“The virus is spread person-to-person, not by eating pork or pork products,”
Reed said. “There is no vaccine to prevent this new flu and the current flu vaccine used to prevent seasonal influenza will not provide protection against this new flu strain.”
Jackson County residents and personnel on Altus Air Force Base who experience flu-like symptoms should contact their physician. Some antiviral drugs may be used to treat persons at high risk of complications from the disease.
Health officials caution that aspirin should not be given to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, particularly fever. Instead, use medications such as acetaminophen to relieve fever and muscle aches associated with the flu. The use of aspirin in children has been associated with Reye’s syndrome, a potentially fatal disease in children, causing harmful effects to many organs, including the brain and liver.
The Jackson County Health Department reminds the public to continue to practice these recommendations to prevent the spread of influenza:
• Wash hands often to protect yourself from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; germs are often spread when a person touches a contaminated object and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or “sneeze in your sleeve.”
• If you are sick, stay home from work, school, church, and running errands. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
Persons with questions about H1N1 influenza may call the Jackson County Health Department at 580-482-7308 or the Oklahoma State Department of Health H1N1 influenza toll-free hotline at 1-866-278-7134, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during regular business hours.
Additional information on H1N1 influenza is available by visiting www.health.ok.gov or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
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NOTE: The Airman in question, was reported to have been seen at the Altus Air Force Base Clinic, the morning of the 15th., and yet this news was just now being reported?
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