Minor Swine Flu Outbreak in US
By: Lisa Carr
Updated: April 24, 2009
A minor swine flu outbreak in the U.S. is the first we've seen in more than three decades and with a couple of confirmed cases right here in Texas, the Lubbock Health Department is on high alert.
In the U.S., swine flu is usually contracted by one or two people each year who have direct contact with pigs, but this year health officials have already confirmed six cases in California and two more in San Antonio, TX. None of the cases, so far, have been linked back to pigs and it's a swine strain never seen before. These unusual circumstances have local health officials being proactive about stopping the unusual virus from spreading in West Texas.
Becky Brawley with the Lubbock Health Dpt. says, "They are aware of it in emergency rooms and in this situation, if they see a person come in with Type-A flu, they want them to also do a culture so we can send it to the state and have it cultured."
Swine flu symptoms include fever, coughing, aches and pains, extreme fatigue and diarrhea and vomiting. Right now, there is no swine flu vaccine for humans. All of the people who got sick in the US have fully recovered. Sixteen people have died of the same strain in Mexico.
In the U.S., swine flu is usually contracted by one or two people each year who have direct contact with pigs, but this year health officials have already confirmed six cases in California and two more in San Antonio, TX. None of the cases, so far, have been linked back to pigs and it's a swine strain never seen before. These unusual circumstances have local health officials being proactive about stopping the unusual virus from spreading in West Texas.
Becky Brawley with the Lubbock Health Dpt. says, "They are aware of it in emergency rooms and in this situation, if they see a person come in with Type-A flu, they want them to also do a culture so we can send it to the state and have it cultured."
Swine flu symptoms include fever, coughing, aches and pains, extreme fatigue and diarrhea and vomiting. Right now, there is no swine flu vaccine for humans. All of the people who got sick in the US have fully recovered. Sixteen people have died of the same strain in Mexico.
