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The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department has confirmed today one case of swine flu identified in Roane County.
The person has been identified as a teenage child.
Sherif Ibrahim, MD., MPH Regional Epidemiologist, said this is the first confirmed case outside Wood County in the department's region.
US health officials estimate that at least one million Americans have been infected with swine flu since the H1N1 virus emerged nearly three months ago.
The number is far higher than cases actually reported to the authorities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said many cases were mild, although 127 people had died.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department is asking the public to follow these preventive measures:
1) If you have flu-like symptoms please stay home and check with your doctor immediately.
2) If you have been diagnosed with the flu or H1N1 influenza you should stay home for at least one week after your symptoms begins or until you have been symptoms-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer, take your medications as prescribed, keep yourself hydrated by drinking clear fluids and get plenty of rest.
3) Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, such as work, school, travel, camps, shopping, social or religious events, and public gatherings.
4) Wash your hands frequently throughout the day. You may also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.
5) Cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze.
6) Avoid touching your eyes, or nose.
7) Maintain cleaning of the most commonly used surfaces, such as tables, knobs, phones, etc.
8) Be vigilant. Try to identify flu-like symptoms as early as possible. 9) Keep your distance, at least 6 feet, from anyone who displays flu-like illness. 10) Swine flu symptoms are similar to that of regular flu and may include fever, headache, sore throat, cough, sneezing, body aches, and occasional diarrhea and vomiting.
11) If you are 65 years or older, 5 years or younger, pregnant, or having a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, etc. the Health Department is urging you to check with your doctor if you have flu-like symptoms or have been exposed to a known case of H1N1 influenza.
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