Media Release

May 8, 2009

11 a.m.

This release has been sent at the request of Alachua County Health Department.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Health Department (ACHD) has confirmed that the UF student who presented at the UF infirmary on April 27, 2009, has been confirmed with having the novel strain of swine flu.  Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs.  Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans; however, human infections with swine flu do occur.

"The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control in Atlanta has confirmed what we highly suspected last week." stated Jean Munden, Administrator of the ACHD.  "The patient has made a full recovery.  Because of the early detection and intervention by the University of Florida Infirmary and the Alachua County Health Department, the patient was isolated and treated.  We are confident that the risk to the community from this particular case is low.  There are no additional probable or confirmed cases in Alachua County.  Our surveillance efforts with local medical providers in identifying and treating suspected cases continue."

As expected, confirmed cases have begun to appear in Florida, including Alachua County.  People at risk for the disease are those who have traveled to affected areas and/or have been exposed to confirmed cases.  For more information concerning swine flu infection, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.  For specific information on travel precautions and an update on the affected areas, please visit: www.cdc.gov/travel.

The Health Department is offering the following recommendations:

• As always, people with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.
• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.  Coughs and sneezes should be directed into a tissue or arm sleeve.
• Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.
• People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.
• If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office or emergency department or stay home.

For more information, visit http://www.alachuacountyhealth.com, or call 352-334-8827.

The goal of the Alachua County Health Department is to promote, protect, maintain and improve the health and safety of all citizens and visitors.