GOV. RITTER, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER ADVISE COLORADANS ABOUT SWINE FLU

 

Gov. Bill Ritter announced today that in response to the rapidly changing swine flu outbreak he had taken the precautionary measure of requesting Colorado's allotment of antiviral medication from the federal national stockpile.  There still have been no documented or reported Colorado cases associated with the swine influenza outbreak.

 

"We are keeping in constant contact with federal authorities, particularly officials at the CDC," Gov. Ritter said at a news conference this afternoon at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. "We continue to monitor the situation and to be in contact with all of the local public health agencies in the state, as well as medical providers and pharmacies."

 

There have been 20 confirmed cases of swine influenza in the United States involving California, Texas, Kansas, New York and Ohio.  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared a public health emergency in order to activate national resources in addressing the evaluation of the situation.

 

"We continue to monitor flu-like illness rates and will be monitoring respiratory illness at hospitals to be on the look out for swine influenza," Colorado Chief Medical Officer Ned Calonge said. "I fully expect us to identify cases in the near future, given the presence of the virus in other states. It's important to understand that at this time, in the United States, the swine flu is acting just like seasonal flu.  It is a relatively mild disease; all cases have fully recovered and only one has required hospitalization."

 

Calonge added: "We are asking all individuals with mild flu-like illness to stay home.  This is regardless of travel history.  Children and adolescents with fever should not go to day care or school.  Adults with fever should not go to work until their symptoms resolve.  Individuals with severe illness, such as difficulty breathing, should contact their health care provider."

 

The state health department also encourages people to take these personal precautions to decrease their chances of getting the flu:

·         Wash hands frequently

·         Cover your sneezes and coughs

·         Avoid others with respiratory illnesses

 

This is a good time to make sure you and your family are prepared for an emergency that might require you to stay at home for several days. We want to take the opportunity to remind people to be prepared at home, including considering having food, water and other necessities.

 

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include: Fever greater than 100°F, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches, and fatigue.  Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.

 

Severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection outside the US. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

 

Swine flu is passed from person to person and not from pigs or from eating pork.

 

Again, this is a rapidly evolving situation and the state health department is asking people to be alert for changes in the department's guidance, which will available at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/.