November 21, 2009
What's Inside:
Swine flu suspected in Platte County
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The global outbreak of swine flu apparently has penetrated Missouri, possibly as close as 30 miles south of St. Joseph.
State health lab officials discovered Missouri’s first probable case in a specimen from a Platte County resident, Gov. Jay Nixon announced Wednesday evening. He declined to divulge where in Platte County, the resident’s age or how he or she contracted the virus because the patient hadn’t yet been notified.
The single infection prompted a series of events. The Department of Health and Senior Services has sent the suspected specimen to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. The state has asked the Platte County resident to stay at home for at least seven days to prevent the spread of the virus. Family members and those who may have been in contact with the infected person are being tested for the virus as well.
“We are working around the clock to manage, track and detain this virus,” Mr. Nixon said. “While this is cause for concern, it is not cause for alarm.”
The department began Wednesday afternoon distributing its stockpile of anti-viral drugs throughout the state, starting with Platte County.
Swine flu has been known as a respiratory disease in pigs since the 1930s, but recent infections in humans have occurred.
As of Wednesday, the CDC reported 93 cases of swine flu in the United States, with one death in Texas. More than 160 are believed to have died from the virus in Mexico.
The World Health Organization upped its pandemic alert from 4 to 5, calling on all countries to prepare for an outbreak. The highest level is 6.
Besides the United States and Mexico, seven other countries to date have reported swine flu infections. “This is a very fast-evolving situation,” said Sarah Patrick, state epidemiologist.
Platte County not only borders Kansas, which has reported two confirmed cases of swine flu, but also is home to the Kansas City International Airport.
Mr. Nixon said he didn’t know whether the infected Missourian had traveled to Mexico. He said he or she exhibited flu-like symptoms and sought care from a physician, who ran the initial test before sending the specimen to the state. CDC confirmation is expected within four days.
Based on trends in other afflicted states, “You can’t rule out there’s going to be expansion of this,” he said.
Health and Senior Services Director Margaret Donnelly warned that symptoms of swine flu are similar to seasonal influenza in humans and that while infection can spread from pig to humans, it also is transmitted with human-to-human contact.
“We know that the number of this strain of flu is increasing, so to find that we have a case in Missouri is not (any) surprise,” Ms. Donnelly said.
Rep. Jason Brown, a Platte City Republican, asked residents of Platte County to act responsibly and to seek medical assistance as soon as possible if they feel ill.
“Obviously it’s a serious situation, but I don’t think there needs to be any panic,” Mr. Brown said.
Alyson E. Raletz can be reached at alysonraletz@npgco.com.
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This is great. I think we have the right to know WHERE this case is in Platte County~!
Nixon doesn't have to breach anyone's privacy, but c'mon, this is only going to make the stress worse!
I find it infuriating. I can handle the truth, we are not children and I resent being treated as a child.
I HIGHLY doubt this case reached the news and media BEFORE the patient had been notified. That is a crock. They have to notify the patient, treat and quarantine the family members. Truly, if it has leaked out to the media before THAT much occurred, I am offended.
While the patient is entitiled to anonomity, I agree 100% with that, a more precise location and mode of transmission is a matter of public safety.
I haven't seen other states act this way. They have it pinpointed to the place of school, work, and how it was suspected to have contracted it.
Get with the program Nixon and quit lying to avoid saying.
Its amazing. This swim flu and the reporting that has been growing with fervor at an exponential rate alongside reeks of the same pandemic qualities that the so called bird flu did a couple years ago.
Leave it to the media to blow something so small into something so out of proportion. What about the regular, run of the mill flu, that actually did kill people? Ill take my 99.8% chance of death with the swine flu or the 98% chance of death from the avian flu over the regular, old fashioned flu any day.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A05E6DA133BEE32A25752C0A9649C946195D6CF ('old fashioned' flu pandemic of 1918)
Wash your hands regularly and stay away from sick people and crowded places and you will probably be fine. Those of us that live in rural areas are perhaps a bit better off than those that have to shop in crowded stores and use public restrooms.
The regular old flu kills many people every year and we don't all run for cover then, why make this such a big thing and why is it up to the government to tell exactly who and where the "possible" infected person lives? If it's not your house then it isn't really any of your business.
I think the public should know immediately who has the virus and where, that way those who may have came into contact with the person will know before they have the chance to spread it else where.
How can they say not to be alarmed, and only concerned? This flu is spreading quickly and already has taken many lives.
How many people get sick or die from the flu every year?
Each flu season is unique, but it is estimated that, on average, approximately 5% to 20% of U.S. residents get the flu, and more than 200,000 persons are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm
For the reporter: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_29/en/index.html This is the report by WHO confirming only 7 deaths. What about the 36,000 people that die every year in the US of the regular flu?
As with any health issue, continue good practices such as covering your cough and sneeze, wash your hands etc...
You don't need to know who has it. Just like I don't need to know, nor have the right to know your medical history. Follow the precautions and if you are so concerned, stay home! Wipe down your keyboard!
Right now there really is no need to panic, though. If you go to the World Health Organization's official website you'll see that the situation isn't nearly as scary as the news media wants us to believe. There have really only been 148 confirmed cases, and they were in nine countries, not just Mexico and the U.S. That number is a lot lower than what you hear on the news.
I'm not saying there haven't been unconfimred cases; what I'm saying is that as usual the news media on all sides is blowing things way out of proportion and trying to scare good folks because then more people watch the news.
WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders but said, "It is considered prudent for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities."
Who also wants to make it very clear that there is "no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products."
For now everyone just needs to stay calm. Build up your immune system, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and try not to worry, which can actually weaken your immune system and make you more prone to getting sick. Then if you get sick, get to a doctor right away. Remember, because of the effectiveness of our medical care, there has only been one death in the U.S., and it was an infant, poor little thing.
Donnelly isn't a doctor! Vets are saying this didn't come from pigs, but rather is tranferred human to human.
unless the meanings have changed 'apparently' and 'probable case' are not certain. no point in getting upset, doesn't do anyone any good to get upset.
I find it very irresponsible of Jay Nixon and Alyson Raletz to start a panic before all the facts are in.
I think I need to look into Mexico vacation packages.
yeah and when it is too late, everyone would cry..they should have kept us informed. Michael H I agree 100% with what you said. Dont panic but dont discount it either. There have been mentionings about WHO only confirming 7 cases. This is misleading the information. Sure, they technically on paper have information for the 7, but they said the SUSPECT it is many, many more (as the CDC have confirmed) than that just waiting for the official confirmation to make its way up to them. Do you honestly beleive when someone tests positive, it is instantly sent to WHO for their confirmation? If it was just this amount, do you think they would be raising the alert level to 5-pandemic? Do you think they would be sending officials to Mexico and working with Mexican govt and healthcare system? To lead someone to believe otherwise is a disservice. If you want to follow that mentality, then sure, 7 out of 26 CONFIRMED cases in Mexico have died. Does that make you feel better? No that is actually worse odds! Its just not the "real" case here. Does the media blow things out of proportion sometimes? Sure. But even the WHO, CDC are putting out statements and and it was the WHO who (LOL) raised ther level to 5-pandemic. So to say they are poo-pooing this down and not to worry, where is the logic?
Several tens of thousands die from "regular" flu every year. These are usually already immuned compromised suspectible people, elderly, and young. What the big friggin deal about this swine, is that is is a NEW mutated virus. Noone has immunities and it is striking the healthy especially harsh. It poses a VERY REAL threat! Plus to boot, there is human to human transmission that is spreading in a fashion to cause great concern. To compare this to regular flu means you do not understand the scientific and medical significance of this mutated flu.
Michael is correct. Dont panic...dont discount. Stay alert and use common sense! I think I heard the affected was in Parkville on the news, I could be wrong...and no we dont have a right to their name, but general locations and how transmitted if known, yes.
By the way, if the ones saying about that the WHO have only confirmed 7 cases of fatality, and 100 and some contracted the virus...care to mention what the CDC has officially confirmed???
Mr. America, I bet they would be real cheap right now!
I'll bet you can get some great deals on trips to Mexico right now!
Said WHO Director General Margaret Chan: “It really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic.”
nuff said.
So politicians are safe, then. :)
suzyQ I hate to point out a character flaw but apparently fear mongering and blind trust of those in authoritative positions are two that stand out to me. However 'new mutations' of viruses are the norm. Viruses have the ability to swap DNA information with other viruses that are different than they are (however there must be some similarities in their overall genetic makeup). That is why there are so many variations of HPV or Herpes, and that is also why it is extremely difficult to make vaccinations, due to the ever changing genetic makeup. This also holds true for the flu virus. However there is a plethora of new and exciting natural ways the environment is trying to thin our herd, this swine flu is merely a reportable buzz word the media has latched onto and refuses to let go of till the next notable and sensationalistic one comes out. Then it will be forgotten about and relegated to the back page of Josephine. I can honestly say Im more worried about real diseases and viruses that are killing millions today than one that has only been in the public eye for a week and has led to the death of a handful.
The news would have you believe it's the black plague. What's in a name? That which we call the flu
By any other name would suck as much."
Precisely. All that I want is some sort of accountability in the media. Their ability to run rampant every other week, shouting that were all going to die from some new, exotic malady begins to get rather sickening (no pun intended...)
See? MAD cow disease. AVIAN flu (because avain bird flu is redundant, does it have extra birds in it?). The SWINE flu. Thats all these are, buzz words made up to sell newspapers and 'gag' People magazine.