El Paso Department of Public Health Monitors Swine Flu

Department of Public Health Monitors Swine Flu

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health has been taking steps to closely monitor and respond to recent events concerning swine flu in the US and in Mexico. We are in frequent communication with our local, state, and federal partners regarding our preparedness for and response to this event and will continue to gather information. The Department of Public Health has increased activities in numerous public health programs including laboratory, disease investigators (epidemiology), and public health preparedness and we will continue to enhance our response as events develop.

At this time, the cases in the United States and in Texas are mild cases that have not required hospital care. All infected individuals have recovered on their own. As of April 26th, there have been 20 cases confirmed of swine influenza A (H1N1) in the United States, including two in Texas. None of the cases in the US have been fatal, though some reports from Mexico indicate that up to 80 individuals infected have died. The differences in severity between cases in the US and Mexico have not been determined at this time.
Since March 2009, a number of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the U.S. and internationally have been identified. An investigation into these cases is ongoing. This is a new virus in humans. Information at this time indicates that the seasonal flu vaccine does not seem effective for preventing this new strain of flu.
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses has been documented.

Symptoms of the swine flu are similar to the seasonal flu and include:
fever,
lack of energy (lethargy),
lack of appetite and
coughing.

Some people with swine flu also have reported:
runny nose,
sore throat,
nausea,
vomiting and
diarrhea.

At this time, we encourage the public to follow three basic steps regarding hygiene for respiratory illness:

Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow / sleeve or a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
Wash your hands frequently with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use alcohol based hand sanitizers if you are not near soap and water.
Stay home from work or school if you are sick.

For parents and caregivers of children, use Tylenol to reduce fever. Do not use Aspirin in children for fever reduction as this may cause a fatal disease known as Reye’s Syndrome.

The public may call (888) 777-5320 for more information. Healthcare providers may call (877) 623-6274 for more information. The following websites have been set-up for information in both English and Spanish:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/espanol/swine_espanol.htm