Labette County's First Influenza A H1N1 Cases Confirmed

PARSONS, Kan., June 12, 2009 – Two patients with flu-like symptoms have tested positive in Labette County for the Influenza A H1N1 virus – commonly known as Swine Flu. The joint announcement was made Friday afternoon by Labette County Health Department Director Debbi Baugher, R.N., and Labette Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Benjamin Cochran, R.N.

They are the first confirmed Influenza A H1N1 cases in the four-state area.

The patients were tested at Labette Health ExpressCare  June 10. Neither was admitted to Labette Health, and both are currently recovering at home. Symptoms have improved in both of the individuals tested.

Specimens were sent to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment laboratory in Topeka Kansas on June 11. The laboratory informed Labette County health officials June 12 that the results for H1N1 were positive.

The World Health Organization declared a global Influenza A H1N1 pandemic June 11, and more than 27,000 cases and approximately 150 deaths have been reported in more than 70 countries. The Labette County cases bring the Kansas total to 94 in 17 of the state’s 105 counties.

The Labette County Health Department is monitoring the recovery of the two local patients and is following Centers for Disease Control guidelines in investigating and following up with individuals who may have come in contact with them.

Those contacts have been informed that the tests have been performed and have been instructed to seek medical attention if they have any of the following symptoms: a fever above 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, respiratory congestion, and possibly diarrhea or vomiting.

Individuals who experience those symptoms should contact their health care provider, who will determine whether testing or treatment is needed. No vaccine is currently available to protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus, but effective treatments are available once the infection is diagnosed.

The Health Department and Labette Health are cooperating to both contain the spread of the Influenza A H1N1 virus and prepare for a possible influx of patients.

“This changes nothing that the hospital is currently doing as far as preparation is concerned,” Cochran said. “All this does is confirm that the virus is in our area.”

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the best way to contain the spread of H1N1 is through good hand washing and social distancing.  The virus is spread through respiratory droplets which fall three to six feet away from someone who coughs or sneezes and can remain alive on surfaces for up to two hours. Citizens are asked to continue practicing good hand-washing techniques regularly, cover a cough with a tissue or cough into a shirt sleeve, and stay home if any of the above symptoms are evident. Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.

Community groups should develop plans to reduce social gatherings. If possible, try to limit the amount of time spent in places where crowds are present. People can have the virus before they have symptoms. People with flu-like symptoms should avoid contact with people until they have been free of the symptoms for 24 hours or seven days from the first symptom, whichever is shorter.

KDHE has established a phone number for concerned Kansans to call with questions about the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.  The toll-free number is 1-877-427-7317.  Operators will be available to answer questions from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Persons calling will be directed to press “1” on their touch-tone phone to be directed to an operator who can answer questions. Kansans with questions about the virus can email H1N1fluinfo@kdheks.gov.  Information is also available from KDHE at www.kdheks.gov.