Gov. Perry Requests Additional Antiviral Medicines

Gov. Perry Requests Additional Antiviral Medicines
From CDC as Precautionary Measure to Address Swine Flu in Texas
All Schools in Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD Closed

AUSTIN - As a precautionary measure, Gov. Rick Perry today increased his
request of antiviral medication to 25 percent (850,000 courses) of the Texas
allotment from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC)
Strategic National Stockpile to be prepositioned in the state. This request
will augment the more than 840,000 courses of antiviral medication on hand
in Texas following a purchase authorized by the 80th Legislature and Gov.
Perry in 2007.

"While the confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. have been mild, it is
prudent that we take the necessary precautions in Texas to protect our
citizens, which is why today I have requested 850,000 courses of antiviral
medication from the CDC to be prepositioned in the state," said Gov. Rick
Perry. "We will continue to work with our local, state and federal health
officials to ensure public safety is protected."

CDC's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has large quantities of medicine
and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public
health emergency (terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake). For more
information on the SNS, visit www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile.

All 14 schools and two district facilities in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal
City Independent School District will be closed effective immediately after
several more flu-like illnesses have been discovered in the ongoing Texas
Department of State Health Services (DSHS) swine flu investigation. All
extracurricular activities are also cancelled. For more information visit:
www.scuc.txed.net.

The move follows the closing of the district's Byron Steele High School,
announced on Saturday. Swine flu has been lab-confirmed in two students
from that school who have recovered. Lab confirmation is pending on a third
case who is recovering.

"We don't have lab confirmation for any of the additional flu-like illnesses
yet, but we've found enough illnesses associated with some of the other
schools that we believe it's prudent to close all of them before classes
resume on Monday," said Sandra Guerra, M.D., a DSHS regional director and
the public health authority for Guadalupe County. She urged students not to
be around each other while the schools are closed, noting that would "defeat
the purpose of the closings."

The governor and state health officials urge the schools' staff, faculty,
students and their household members to avoid contact with others,
especially if they have symptoms of a respiratory illness.

Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to those of regular or seasonal
flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing. Some with
swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and
diarrhea.

Health officials say everyone should follow standard precautions to reduce
the spread of any respiratory illness.
.Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
.Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue and
properly dispose of used tissues.
.Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or
use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Individuals with these flu-like symptoms should call the state's swine flu
call center at 888-777-5320. For health care providers with questions about
assessing, evaluating and treating swine flu, call 877-623-6274. These
lines are operational from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

For additional information on the swine flu, please visit:
www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/