Ashtabula County remained swine-flu free as of Monday, but one of its neighboring counties reports two confirmed cases of the virus, health officials said.
“None, so far,” said Joyce Bronson, disease surveillance specialist at the Ashtabula County Health Department. “We hope it stays that way.”
In Geauga County, two school-aged children suffered mild symptoms of the H1N1 virus, the so-called swine flu, said Jay Becker, disease surveillance specialist in Geauga County, noting symptoms include a fever and sore throat.
“Both youngsters recovered at home with nothing out of the ordinary,” he said. “For the most part, healthy individuals ... should be able to ride it out in a couple of days.”
No confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in Lake County, said Ron Graham, director of the Lake County General Health District.
“Confirmation testing would require that the patient be ill enough to have to be hospitalized or (be part of) a large outbreak,” he said.
Ohio’s first confirmed case of swine flu appeared in late April in a 9-year-old Lorain County boy, according to news reports. He had returned from a trip to Mexico, reports said.
The possibility of flu clinics inside Ashtabula County school buildings will be discussed Thursday at a meeting planned between school administrators and health officials, said Ray Saporito, county health commissioner.
Local health departments are joining a national push to fend off H1N1. A vaccine is being developed, but isn’t expected to be ready for use until October.
Health officials are looking at schools to host clinics because young children are in the at-risk group.
In the meantime, local health officials say:
• Most victims of the swine flu feel better in three days.
• Most people do not need to see a doctor.
• Symptoms include: fever of 100 degrees or more and a sore throat.
• People with these symptoms should stay home until they are fever free, without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
• The swine flu has a very short incubation period, typically 24 to 48 hours and usually lasts one to four days.
• To prevent getting the flu, wash your hands frequently and the hands of your children often. Use alcohol hand sanitizer, as well.
As for the seasonal flu, Ashtabula County’s health department will start its flu clinics at the end of this month.
Local News
No swine flu reported yet in Ashtabula County
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