SWINE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC 2009-MEXICO AND U.S.A. 4/27/2009 | Infectious Disease Specialist - Infectious Disease Prevention and Control

SWINE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC 2009-MEXICO AND U.S.A. 4/27/2009

SHADES OF 1976-THE SWINE FLU RETURNS.-Beginning in March of 2009-cases of Influenza -like illness (ILI) began appearing in Mexico.To date approximately 1600 cases have been reported. Whether all of these represent the new new Swine Flu strain is unclear at this point.Of the Mexican cases-18 have been laboratory confirmed as Swine Influenza A/HINI.12 /18 are identical to strains isolated in California.Appoximately 20 cases have been reported in the United States–at least 8 have been positively confirmed as Swine A/HINI.Cases so far reported are from California (San Diego and Imperial counties) and Texas (Guadalupe county) and New York City.It is not clear at this time if the symptoms are substantially different from usual seasonal Influenza.

The following recommendations are made at this time:

      1.Clinicians should consider swine influenza infection in patients with febrile respiratory illnesses who have traveled to Mexico or to the areas in the United States where the disease has been reported

      2.Symptoms seen in these individuals  may include:Fever greater than 100.0 degrees F.,sore throat,cough,stuffy nose,chills,headache and body aches, and fatigue.

     3.Individuals traveling to epidemic areas should be advised of the risk and consider this in their travel plans.

     4.Fortunately the Swine Influenza strain is full susceptible to Tamiflu and Relenza.

     5.The relative severity and extent of communicability and spread throughout the world is unclear at this moment.

     6.The United States Government has declared a Public Health Emergency

     7.Partial Protection is provided by current influenza vaccines.

     8.If clinicians encounter suspect cases in Mississippi with the above listed symptoms(app travel exposure and app. symptoms) please obtain a nasopharyngeal swab–place in viral transport media and refrigerate and call Mississippi Dept of Health 601-576-7725 during normal working hours or 601-576-7400 after hours for specific instructions regarding transport of the specimen to the State Labororatory.

For additional information go to.

www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

www.cdc.gov/travel

 www.who.int

Mississippi Dept of Health Web-Site–No cases yet in Mississippi

www.newyorktimes.com

For additional questions or advice to specific travelers regarding specific destinations. Please contact us at

www.centerofinfectiousdisease.com

David L. Smith M.D. 4/27/2009 11:30 A.M.

1040 River Oaks Drive, Ste 303
Flowood, MS 39232

tel: 601.936.0706
fax: 601.936.6150
email: info@cide.ms

©2009 Center of Infectious Disease Excellence at River Oaks

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