Health officials dealing with swine flu cases

County health department officials from Wahkiakum County and Southwest Washington continue to monitor the advance of the swine flu pandemic.

While the virus has now hit residents of Washington and Oregon, health officials say it is not as virulent as feared.

Wahkiakum County Health Department Administrator Judy Bright said Tuesday the county will soon receive anti-viral medicine for people who contract the disease.

"We're working closely with the Wahkiakum Family Practice Clinic, which is reported an average of two patients a day with flu-like symptoms," she said.

As of Tuesday, none had met the criteria for testing, she said, but the criteria could change, and tests would be conducted in the future.

The state Department of Health reported that federal health officials have confirmed suspected swine flu cases in Washington, which joins 38 other states that have confirmed cases. Nine people have been confirmed with swine flu - seven in King County and one each in Snohomish and Spokane counties.

“These nine confirmed swine flu cases are the first for Washington since the outbreak began,” Governor Chris Gregoire in the Tuesday announcement. “I have directed Secretary of Health Mary Selecky to continue her agency’s efforts of identifying and preventing swine flu in Washington. And I urge everyone in our state to continue to take everyday precautions as you would for seasonal flu.”

“The Center for Disease Control (CDC) tells us 99 percent of probable samples tested are confirmed positive, so this is no surprise,” Selecky said. “As the disease investigation progresses, it appears this new flu strain is similar to seasonal flu in symptoms, treatment, and spread.”

State and local health officials are working closely with the CDC to respond to the outbreak, track the spread of the disease, and develop prevention strategies, the announcement said. The nine people who are confirmed cases are all recovering. The state labs continue to receive samples from local health for testing, and more confirmed cases are likely.

“We expect most of the probable cases in our state to be confirmed, as they have in other states,” Selecky said. “We’ve been learning every day as we respond to this new strain of influenza, and we’re adjusting strategy as we go. For example, many local health leaders have adjusted their policies on reducing exposures in schools, asking anyone with symptoms of respiratory illness to stay home rather than closing an entire school.”

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to seasonal flu symptoms--fever, muscle aches, cough, and sometimes trouble breathing. Health officials say it’s important for people who are sick with flu-like symptoms to stay home or go to a health care provider if they become seriously ill. The best thing people can do is to pay attention to their own health. If their children are sick, keep them out of school or day care until they’re well.