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StumbleNevada gets swine flu case as state preps for possible outbreak
Health official: Girl is recovering from the H1N1 strain
AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Cathleen Allison
State human services director Mike Willden talks during a 2009 meeting.
Published Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 8:39 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 5:20 p.m.
CDC experts discuss swine flu
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del.icio.usCDC experts talk about the swine flu.
Sun Archives
- Reid: Feds will assure cash-strapped states are prepared (4-28-2009)
- Among swine flu’s unknowns: Impact here (4-28-2009)
- 40 U.S. swine flue cases confirmed; none in Nevada (4-27-2009)
- No reports of swine flu in Nevada (4-26-09)
- New swine flu case confirmed in California, none in Nevada (4-24-2009)
- Swine flu cases put Nevada health officials on alert (4-23-2009)
Sun Coverage
Washoe County Health District officials confirmed Nevada's first case of swine flu Wednesday morning, as the World Health Organization raised its threat level for the second time this week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 91 cases of the new flu strain had been reported and state officials say Nevada is prepared to handle the outbreak’s likely progression.
A 2-year-old Washoe County girl is recovering from the H1N1 strain and is not hospitalized, said Martha Framsted, spokeswoman for the Nevada State Health Division, which is working with Washoe County health officials. The girl is expected to recover, Framsted said.
Washoe County health officials said another family member linked to the child also was ill. Mike Willden, director of the state's Health and Human Services Department, said this afternoon during a briefing of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee that it was the girl’s mother who was sick.
He said Washoe authorities are investigating a daycare the girl attended as a possible connection. Parents of other children at the school have been notified.
The name of the daycare hasn’t been released.
There is no immediate link to Mexico, where the virus was first detected, as is the case with most other instances in the United States.
A sample of the toddler’s virus was one of four analyzed by the state health department over the weekend as possibly being swine flu, Willden said. While three of the samples were found to be negative, the girl’s sample was sent to the CDC for further analysis.
The CDC confirmed the test results Wednesday morning.
Dr. Mary E. Guinan, acting State Health Officer of the Nevada State Health Division, said the samples were collected as part of routine screening the state conducts during flu season. She said those screening efforts have been expanded and will continue.
“This year, we’ve had a quite mild flu season and very few hospitalizations,” she said. “(The flu virus) has likely been in the community for a while, but it’s been so mild, people didn’t report it.”
The state testing lab has been open 24 hours a day since Sunday, she said.
State officials are taking part in daily briefings from the CDC and also are conducting regular meetings with local health agencies.
“Antiviral stocks are ready and can be deployed, as well as personal protective equipment,” said Dr. Luana J. Ritch, who is in charge of the state Bureau of Health Statistic, Planning and Emergency Response.
She added the state has a supply of masks, gloves and other gear to dispense to local health agencies.
As for the sick toddler, health officials warn that her case probably is the first of many in Nevada.
"This is a marathon, not a sprint," Framsted said of the increasing cases of H1N1 flu in the United States.
Gov. Jim Gibbons issued a statement today in which he urged Nevadans not to panic.
“Many people are suffering through needless anxiety. This is not a time for over-reaction, fear or panic,” he said. “At this time, there is no vaccine for this strain of flu, however, swine flu is easily treatable.”
Gibbons said all available state assets will be available to any local government requesting assistance.
Over the last few years, emergency responders and government officials in Nevada have participated in dozens of exercises involving the spread of contagious diseases, he said.
Willden said the state has been preparing for an outbreak of this type for the past three years. Recent outbreaks of SARS and the avian flu have put the state on high alert, he said.
"We've been in planning mode for years," Willden said.
Nevada Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign today issued a joint statement on the federal response to the outbreak.
“We want to assure Nevadans that this situation is receiving the full attention and resources of local, state and federal government,” the senators said. “The planning and the funding we have provided to date have helped to ensure that we are prepared to minimize the impact of this virus.”
Nevada has about 140,000 courses of anti-viral treatment on hand and is expecting another 86,000 courses from the federal government by the end of the week.
Locally, McCarran International Airport has posted a travel advisory from the CDC on its Web site in both Spanish and English.
"People traveling from the United States to affected areas should be aware of the risk of illness with swine flu and take precautions," the advisory warns.
The federal government has advised against nonessential travel to Mexico.
Clark County Aviation Department spokesman Chris Jones said the airport is working in conjunction with other agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, and the Southern Nevada Health District to stay up-to-date on the situation.
"People need to make good decisions and look to the proper authorities for where they get their (travel) information," he said.
The Philippine health chief appealed to dozens of Filipino legislators to abandon plans to visit Las Vegas to cheer for boxing idol Manny Pacquiao — even though Las Vegas is more than 300 miles from the Mexican border.
Until today, the U.S. government had known of outbreaks in five states, but new information from the CDC shows instances of the flu in five more: Massachusetts, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Indiana.
New York has 51 confirmed cases, most tied to a private academy whose students visited Mexico on spring break; Texas has 16; California has 14; Kansas has two; Massachusetts has two; Michigan has two; Arizona has one; Indiana has one; Ohio has one; and one confirmed case in Nevada.
Dozens of Marines at the Twentynine Palms Base in California have been confined after one came down with the flu.
Sixty four percent of the cases involve people under age 18, but patients range in age from 8 to 81, Besser said during the media briefing.
Border surveillance has been increased to actively look for cases of infection, he said. Swine flu is blamed for the deaths of at least 159 people in Mexico and has sickened more than 2,498 people there.
Reid has said the federal government will assist states as they prepare for the flu to worsen. President Barack Obama is seeking $1.5 billion in emergency funds to prepare states for a worsening outbreak.
The incubation period for the U.S. cases is two to seven days, which, Besser said, "is typical for what you see with an influenza virus."
New testing indicates that the flu strain can be combated with two antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, according to the latest edition of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Those drugs can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription and will only be given to people who are ill, Guinan said. People shouldn’t try and purchase these items at pharmacies because they aren’t available over-the-counter.
The new flu strain combines pig, bird and human viruses, raising concern among health officials that humans do not have immunity to the new virus strain.
"The most recent illnesses and reported death suggest that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may be emerging in the U.S.," Besser said. "More cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths are expected in the coming days and weeks."
In a normal flu season, 36,000 people die from complications from the influenza virus every year, Besser said.
The virus has crossed new borders, now reported in the Middle East and the Asian-Pacific region, Canada, Austria, New Zealand, Israel, Spain, Britain and Germany.
Health officials across the board have stressed prevention measures, including basic hand washing and other hygiene measures.
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where in Nevade is the one case? Why don't they release that info too?
You just have to wonder if this initial case was from someone who just arrived from Mexico. Someone without "documents." Since we have the largest percentage of people without "documents" in the US, I just hope this person can find his "documents" so we can more easily provide him/her with free health care.
vegasfun01,
if you had read the story closely you would know it was in Washoe county or Reno.
When this story was first posted, we didn't have the specific information about the case being in Washoe. vegasfun01 posted his comment before the story was updated with the details.
Right on nednougat, let's just blame illegal immigration for everything--the recession, stupid Nevada voters who elected Gibbons, the state's high obesity rate, TV's M.A.S.H. being canceled, etc.
For all you know, it can simply be someone visiting from Mexico, a family that traveled to Mexico on vacation, etc. Your impulsive and implicit disdain for immigrants is obvious.
I'm pleased to see the prompt global response, as well as responsible countermeasures in Mexico City. Even if only a scare this time, it's a good dry-run if there is ever a more serious pandemic -- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
Don't you love Gov. Gibbons promising all state assets will be available to combat Swine Flu. Under his budget, we're lucky to find an open urgent care center.
Carson: When you do actually find an urgent care that is open, the wait is four hours or longer. So, for four hours you are sitting in a room with sick people that are coughing their brains out and spreading more stuff around. If you go to the hospital the wait is just as long and you pay a very high co-pay!
As far as the swine flu, we were told today that all staff should remain calm and wash their hands with antibacterial soap. I was also told to not let the students breathe on us. If a student needs to sneeze they need to sneeze in a tissue and then wash their hands with antibacterial soap. Common sense should prevail in this situation. If you get sick, stay home!
otherwise, eat right and get plenty of sleep. Don't shake hands with anyone!
This seems quite serious. Should the casinos consider what Mexico City has done and temporarily close down shows, table games, buffets and poker rooms ?
If they don't take steps now and people get sick will the casinos be liable ?
These steps may be reasonable if the threat from this flu is significant. Health officials are acting as if the threat is very significant. Casino interests are so powerful they may successfully resist all efforts suggested to contain this health emergency. This may have the effect of causing Las Vegas to become a transmittal point where people from all over the world come to Las Vegas, get sick, return home infected with this dangerous flu and pass it on to their neighbors. Such a reputation could ruin Las Vegas as a destination. Potential visitors would be leery of coming to Las Vegas only to get sick from doing so and not just sick but sick from a dangerous killer flu.
...it has started. People need to be on their toes. A ounce of caution and mindful of others and taking simple steps to avoid spreading it will help.Wash your hands.Carry a sanitizer,they help.
Did you know that the first america confirmed swine flu was in imperial valley, california, Two months earlier than the first mexico case?
Does this remind anyone of the 1976 Swine Flu debacle?
I love President Obama but he's wrong about the border. These people are panicing and crossing into U.S. for medical care! Close the border! In CA a water district my sister-in-law works for sent ill workers home & told them they must have Dr. note stating they're not infected w/it. Co-worker said she's going to Cancun?? Can I sue her & my company if she brings it back & infects me? Stupid ppl r risking not only their lives but everyone they come in contact with!
Do any of ya'll understand that this is airborne? Closing the borders ain't gonna stop this. What part of airborne don't ya'll understand.
Get over it, people! This is being so overblown it isn't funny. So far the numbers suggest that H1N1 isn't any more "deadly" than any other flu going around, maybe less so.
Who cares if a few hundred people die from it? Look at the world population numbers and we could use a die-off of a few hundred MILLION.
If nothing else, it might help the unemployment numbers by either opening up positions or taking people off the roles.
Boftx: Maybe you will be the next one the gets sick, you don't seem to value human life.
annienonymouse: If the virus is strictly "airbourne, ya'll" then why are we being advised to wash our hands with antibacterial soap? The borders need to be shut down until we stop this flu from spreading like wildfire.
Actually, the borders should have been closed long ago.
starrynite7: join the vigilante panic then. You can't stop the wind from blowing, nor the hot media air. I don't use antibacterial soap, never have. Just plain old soap will do. American's are germaphobic anyway.
boftx: I heartily agree with you on a couple of points.