Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

health:

New swine flu case confirmed in California, none in Nevada

A federal official reported another case of swine flu today, confirmed in California, bringing the total in two southern counties there to six patients.

Two other cases in two 16-year-old boys from San Antonio, Texas, who were high school classmates have also been confirmed, said Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There are no restrictions on travel due to the unusual strain of influenza discovered by the CDC and no cases of the latest strain of swine flu have been reported in Nevada, health officials said today.

Besser also said that seven of 14 laboratory samples from Mexico have been confirmed as swine flu, matching the unusual strain discovered in the United States.

The Southern Nevada Health District does year-round influenza surveillance and has not had any virus strains out of the ordinary, said health district epidemiologist Brian Labus. If the lab here discovered an unrecognizable strain, it would be sent to the CDC for identification, he said.

Flu viruses can cross species, which is why pigs have transmitted the swine strain to humans, Labus said. The latest strain, a blend of four flu viruses, may be jumping from human to human, but it's too early in the investigation, Labus said.

There are thousands of strains of flu viruses, which is why people can get sick over and over again.

"Obviously, something extraordinary is going on and we need to look into it, but not all the factors are known," Labus said.

Besser said the CDC is sending medical investigators to San Diego and Texas to aid state health officials in those states.

"Our concern has grown since yesterday," Besser said, noting that the Centers for Disease Control will work closely with state, local and international health agencies in tracking and containing the swine flu outbreak.

Mexican officials confirmed that at least 16 people had been killed in the swine flu outbreak, primarily in central Mexico. Mexico has not invited U.S. health officials to investigate, but Besser said he expects that a CDC team will head to that country as well.

Of the six pandemic levels set by the CDC, Besser said the United States would remain at Level Three.

"Prevention, prevention, prevention," said Martha Framsted, spokeswoman for the Nevada Division of Health in Carson City.

Health officials recommend following routine health practices, such as washing hands thoroughly, covering a cough or sneeze with a sleeve or one-use tissue and staying at home if flu symptoms develop. They include fever, cough, light sensitivity, vomiting and diarrhea.

"It's important that people understand what is going on, but they don't need to panic," Framsted said.

In the latest week available from Nevada's influenza report to April 11, influenza A H1 is the predominant type across the state.

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