Dan's Papers - May 8, 2009 -

With swine flu - officially known as the 2009 H191 virus - hysteria has grown across the globe as the numbers of those infected has risen to approximately 1,500 confirmed cases as of May 5. East End health officials are doing what they can to prepare for a possible outbreak in our area.

Swine flu, which people can catch from pigs, features symptoms that range from mild to severe (depending on the person) similar to the regular flu: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, chills and fatigue. Some people also have vomiting or diarrhea. Those who have swine flu are contagious to others for seven days following the onset of symptoms.

The epicenter of the disease is Mexico, where it originated and where there have been 802 confirmed cases of swine flu, with 26 deaths. The country shut down its economy - including businesses, universities, museums and libraries - for five days in order to keep the virus from spreading. It even cancelled all Cinco de Mayo celebrations. In the United States, as of May 4, there were 380 cases across 36 states, with one death. The majority of these cases in the U.S. revolved around St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, where 45 students fell ill and the school shut down for a week

Swine flu has been slowly spreading east in Suffolk County, with three cases confirmed in students from Deer Park, forcing the local school district to shut down area schools for a week. One 50-year-old man from Holbrook who is an employee at St. Francis also contracted the illness.

Critics say the media's coverage of the spread of swine flu has been excessive and sensationalistic and that the public's hysteria about the disease is possibly more dangerous than the virus itself. World health officials are finding that so far this strain of swine flu is no more severe than regular flu, which causes about 35,000 deaths per year.

But it's better to be safe than sorry. As Suffolk County officials deal with the handful of swine flu cases it's seen so far, the East End is readying itself in preparation of the possibility of the virus spreading farther east. The County's Department of Health Services has reached out to area hospitals, EMTs and police departments regarding how to handle potential swine flu cases.

The County has also issued a list of preventive measures for the public to follow, including routinely disinfecting surfaces that are often touched by many people, including doorknobs, refrigerator door handles, telephones and bathroom surfaces with a cleaner that is labeleled as a "registered disinfectant;" avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible; covering your nose and mouth with tissues when sneezing or coughing, and then discarding them immediately; washing your hands with soap and water as often as possible; using an alcohol based hand sanitizer; avoiding contact with sick people; and staying home from work or school if you experience any flu-like symptoms, and contacting your doctor.

"If you have a fever or feel something coming on, stay home and don't risk spreading the infection," said Southampton Town Supervisor Linda Kabot, in a press release. "Wash your hands frequently, carry some hand sanitizer, and try to steer clear of those with symptoms."

But remember, regular flu has been present on the East End for several months. So if you experience flu symptoms, don't panic and be quick to assume it's the swine flu.

For more information on the latest swine flu news, go to www.cdc.gov/swineflu or for more localized information, www.suffolkcountyny.gov.