County Executive Aaron Reardon joined Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer for Snohomish Health District, for a press conference on Thursday, April 30, to address concerns about the national swine flu outbreak and its local implications.

While several hundred cases have been reported nationally, only 14 cases had been identified in Snohomish County as the paper went to press.

"In 2003, Snohomish County worked with the Snohomish Health District and local hospitals and emergency officials to develop a Pandemic Flu Action Plan," said Reardon. "We are now implementing Stage 1 of that plan."

To respond to public health questions, the county has established a special phone line at (425) 388-5060. Emergency management officials are going high-tech with information posted on Facebook (search for Snohomish County Health District) and Twitter (snoco_dem). Updates are also posted on the health district's Web site at www.snohd.org.

Due to budget restrictions, the state earlier reduced funding for public health agencies, including the Snohomish Health District. Reardon and other local officials are pushing the legislature to re-examine that decision in the extended session.

"We are strongly advising the state to look at adequate funding for public health," said Reardon.

Swine flu is a type A influenza virus, with the scientific designation H1N1, found in pigs but not usually in people. It is transmitted person-to-person when people cough and sneeze, spreading germs through the air or onto surfaces that others touch. Infection occurs when the virus gets in the airways and lungs. The virus is not spread by eating pork.

There is no vaccine for swine flu, but antiviral drugs may prevent flu viruses from multiplying in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and help you feel better faster, especially if they are started within two days of the appearance of symptoms. They may also prevent serious flu complications.

"Right now, the county has 200 courses of flu vaccine available," said Goldbaum, "and we're expecting another 800 courses in the next few days from the national stockpile." A course is a 5-day treatment, given twice a day.

With a population nearly 700,000 in the county, 1,000 doses of antiviral medication may prove inadequate, but Dr. Goldbaum admits it's simply too soon to know.

"We don't know yet if the flu that has been so deadly in Mexico is a different, more serious strain than what we're seeing in the U.S.," he explained, "or if the Mexican government is simply seeing only the most critical cases so the incidence of fatality just appears to be high."

"The swine flu cases we've seen [in the U.S.] have mostly been like traditional flu," he continued, "with the cases resolving on their own or with traditional antiviral treatments."

Symptoms of swine flu resemble other types of seasonal influenza, including fever greater than 100º F, cough and a sore throat. Some patients also report fatigue, body aches, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The risk of contracting or spreading swine flu, and most types of viral infections, can be minimized by taking some common sense precautions. If you are coughing or sneezing, always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, or use a hand sanitizer. Avoid contact with sick people, and stay away from others if you are symptomatic.

Based on the rapid spread of the virus thus far, public health officials believe that more cases will be identified over the next several weeks. Case counts are updated daily at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.

The Health District remains in close communication with the state Department of Health (DOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the outbreak. SHD has advised local health care providers to test people who have flu symptoms and have traveled recently to places where swine flu is present. CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this recommendation will be posted at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.

CDC is releasing one-quarter of its antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to help states, including Washington, respond to the outbreak. Snohomish Health District will coordinate local distribution to health care providers at the direction of the state if the impact on Snohomish County becomes critical.


Caption: Bill Burns, disaster planning and preparedness specialist at the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross posts a notice at the entrance to the chapter to "Cover your Cough and Clean your Hands." The poster has also been placed throughout the interior of the building as part of the Red Cross's swine flu prevention advice to its employees, volunteers and the public.

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