Nine flu cases confirmed in Nevada

By Mary Manning

Published Friday, May 8, 2009 | 12:50 p.m.

Updated Friday, May 8, 2009 | 4:57 p.m.

Nevada health officials have confirmed the state has a ninth case of new influenza, also known as swine flu, this one located in a northern Nevada county as of late today.

Washoe County health officials said a new confirmed case of the 2009 H1N1 flu was confirmed by the Nevada State Laboratory late this afternoon in an elementary school-age student who was not hospitalized.

The total for Washoe County is four confirmed cases of the unusual flu.

State health officials also reported a new case of flu in Lyon County.

The latest person is under age 18 and is home recovering from a mild case of the H1N1 flu that is sweeping the United States, said Martha Framsted, a spokeswoman for the Nevada State Health Division.

While health officials have increased surveillance at the school where the case occurred, the school district nurse reported that absentee levels in Lyon County are below normal rates with no unusual illnesses identified, Framsted said.

The Nevada Joint Health and Education Authorities Influenza Oversight Committee has reviewed the case and decided to keep the school open.

Dr. Robin Titus, county health office, is aware of the situation and has been consulting with both the state health officer and the local school, Framsted said.

Nevada's total number of the novel flu strain cases have been confirmed at nine, with four in Washoe County, two in Clark County and two in Carson City and one in Lyon County. There are 13 probable flu cases from Clark County awaiting confirmation testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

"The additional cases are not surprising," said Dr. Mary Guinan, state health officer. "Because of the increased surveillance and the ability of the state laboratory to do the H1N1 swine-like flu virus confirmatory test, we assumed we would find more cases. As I have said in the past, this does not mean we are experiencing a more severe type of situation."

The Nevada State Health Division has activated a call center to answer questions about the new H1N1 flu.

The information line can be reached locally through the Southern Nevada Health District by calling 759-4636 (INFO), or 1 (866) 767-5038.

Federal health officials are continuing to track the spread of the flu that combines strains from pigs, birds and humans as more cases develop across the country, said Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease and Control, during a media briefing today.

Unlike seasonal flu strains, numbering over 700, the unusual virus is causing more diarrhea and vomiting, although symptoms are relatively mild and last for about a week, Besser said.

Federal officials updated testing guidelines for the flu today, stressing that only the most critically ill patients who are hospitalized. Nevada officials are following the guidelines.

The United States is reporting 1,639 flu cases confirmed today in 43 states. There have been two deaths attributed to the flu, one a 23-month-old Mexican boy who died in Texas and a 33-year-old Texas school teacher.

Federal, state and local officials will keep a close eye on the virus as it spreads to the Southern Hemisphere, Besser said. South America, Australia and Africa are entering their typical winter flu seasons, he said.

By tracking the progress of the new flu, Besser said the United States will have a better idea of age groups and populations where the virus might spread next fall.