Local cases have been mild

By Bridgette L. Rallo

The news about the Swine Flu outbreak isn’t good. President Obama has declared a national health emergency, Connecticut public health officials admit that, in all likelihood, there won’t be enough H1N1 vaccine to go around and several schools in our state have reported spikes in student displays of flu-like symptoms. At the Hotchkiss School in Salisbury, there were 100 reported Swine Flu cases as of September 30. That amounts to ten percent of the school community, but Headmaster Malcolm McKenzie noted in the private academy’s online newsletter that all of the cases were mild and all of the affected students have recovered. Coastal Connecticut’s Guilford High School has had the largest outbreak in the state, with 300 of the public school’s 1,100 students showing signs of respiratory infection as of October 23. Guilford school officials also stress that all of their reported cases have been mild and of short duration. As if these incidents weren’t enough to cause widespread worry, Purdue University’s latest study (October 15, 2009) finds that 63 percent of all Americans will be affected in some way by the pandemic virus before it runs its course. So, should residents of the Northwest Corner be worried? We should be cautious, according to state health officials, and we should stay informed. There is a wealth of information about all aspects of the H1N1 epidemic available on the Internet and on area newscasts, ranging from descriptions of Swine Flu symptoms to high-risk groups to pertinent flu facts for international travelers. The Connecticut Department of Public Health even has an entire section on their Web site devoted to the subject, Novel H1N1 Influenza: What Connecticut Residents Need to Know, which can be found at www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch. It is important to note that not everyone who becomes infected by an influenza virus has Swine Flu. Equally important is the fact that, while the effects of most influenza strains are similar, the H1N1 virus causes respiratory symptoms in all cases. Emergency warning signs for children include fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting and becoming so irritable that the child does not want to be held. Another telltale sign of Swine Flu in children is if flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and a worsening cough and a fever with a rash. Adult emergency symptoms include difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion and severe or persistent vomiting. Children or adults experiencing these particular symptoms should seek medical attention. High-risk groups for the more severe form of the Swine Flu have been clearly defined by the national Center for Disease Control. These include children, pregnant women and anyone with a chronic illness. Public health officials recommend that people in high-risk groups pre-register for an H1N1 vaccination. In our area, the place to register for a vaccination is the Torrington Area Health District, located at 350 Main Street, Torrington, CT, 06790. This office also has an H1N1 Hotline telephone number, 860-626-6640, and a Web site, www.tahd.org. Media reports of delays in the production of the Swine Flu vaccine are accurate and the scheduled delivery dates to official vaccination providers is now somewhere between November 1st and December 31st.