Late Saturday night, Sonoma County Public Health Officials were notified by the California Department of Public Health – State Lab that the County’s first probable case of H1N1 flu (as reported on Friday, May 1) was confirmed as positive for the H1N1 virus. Dr. Mark Netherda, Deputy Public Health Officer, explained, “We fully expected the probable case from Friday to be confirmed as H1N1 by the State lab.” He continued, “This confirmation will not change our procedure, as we treat a ‘probable’ case in the same way as we treat a confirmed case.”
The County’s first confirmed case of H1N1 in Sonoma County involves an adolescent girl, with recent travel history to Mexico, who became ill Sunday April 26 and was tested and treated by her primary care physician a few days later. Reports from her family today indicate she has fully recovered and no additional family members have become ill. As a precaution, household members have been advised to remain at home to reduce the possibility of spreading the virus to others.
No schools in Sonoma County have been dismissed as result of this first case. The girl testing positive for H1N1 is a student at a Sonoma County public school, but due to her illness, had not attended classes since returning to Sonoma County.
Dr. Netherda stated, “The girl’s family has been appropriately cooperative and responsible, complying with our requests to remain at home and to follow basic precautions to help reduce the chance of other family members or the community from becoming ill.” Health Officials declined to disclose further details about the case stating that, “This case is being handled according to our protocols and does not represent a risk to the publics’ health at this time.”
According to new guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control yesterday, this first confirmed case does not meet the criteria for school dismissal. Additional cases could trigger dismissal of one or more Sonoma County schools, generally for a minimum of seven days. Public Health officials have met with county schools administration to review the process for school dismissal, should that become necessary.
The total number of US cases rose from 160 on Saturday to 226 on Sunday. While the number of cases continues to grow, the severity continues to be mild, although one death in the US was reported last week in a toddler in Texas.
H1N1 flu spreads the same way as seasonal flu, mainly through coughing or sneezing by infected people. The symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to those of regular seasonal flu, with almost all confirmed cases presenting with fever and most cases having a cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and tiredness. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting with H1N1 flu. Anyone with severe or prolonged symptoms should contact his or her doctor.
Public health officials recommend:
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
· Avoid close contact with sick people.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
More information about H1N1 flu available at sonoma-county.org/publichealth.
