US Declares Swine Flu a Public Health Emergency
For the last few years we have been hearing about the upcoming bird flu epidemic, but today, April 26, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared a public health emergency due to the swine flu.
Here is part of Napolitano's statement from the White House briefing room:
"The first thing I want to announce today is that the Department of Health and Human Services will declare today a public health emergency in the United States. That sounds more severe than really it is. This is standard operating procedure and allows us to free up federal, state, and local agencies and their resources for prevention and mitigation; it allows us to use medication and diagnostic tests that we might not otherwise be able to use, particularly on very young children; and it releases funds for the acquisition of additional antivirals."
According to the Centers for Disease Control 20 cases have been reported around the nation, from California to New York. So far the cases in the US have been milder than those in Mexico, where at least 20 people have died from this new strain of the swine flu virus. In attempts to keep a possible health emergency at bay, the government is asking people to stay at home if they are ill. Other simple precautions you can take are to wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as well as avoiding close contact with people who are ill.
To see the symptoms of the swine flu, read more.
The swine flu symptoms people have experienced in the states are considered "relatively nonspecific" according to Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's interim deputy director for science and public health program. The symptoms include: high fever, cough sore throat, muscle aches, and possibly vomiting and diarrhea. However, these symptoms are not unique to swine flu and public health officials urge people to use their own judgment on when to seek medical help, especially if they have been in Mexico, a high risk area.
I don't know about you, but I am going to go wash my hands right now.
