Positive diagnoses of H1N1 flu few and far between
By Gwendolynne Larson (Contact)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
As cases of influenza begin spreading across the Emporia area, patients and the public likely will not know whether the cases are H1N1 flu, which has been causing concern since first diagnosed last spring.
If patients go to doctors with flu-like symptoms, said Ann Mayo, Lyon County health officer, the physicans can order a test that screens for Type A influenza, of which H1N1 is a strain.
And, she added, doctors may tell patients they “probably have H1N1.”
The only sure way to know, she said, is through a test at a state-approved lab. Early this month, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment stopped accepting specimens for testing from doctors’ offices.
“KDHE will continue collecting specimens from hospitalized patients, as well as a limited number of specimens from a network of clinics and hospitals across the state that are submitting weekly information on the number of patients they are seeing with flu-like symptoms,” the department announced in a Sept. 2 news release. “Those sites will also submit a random sample of specimens from patients, for testing that will allow KDHE to monitor the spread of disease in the state.”
Health officials say the reason for the change is that H1N1 influenza is treated with the same common-sense steps as other Influenza A strains. According to Mayo, those steps include washing hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs, sneezing into your elbow or a tissue then discarding it properly and, most importantly, staying away from other people.
“They should stay away from people until 24 hours after their fever breaks,” Mayo said.
The spread of H1N1 cases initially caused concern because the strain had never been seen in humans before. Because of that, people have no natural resistance. But, Mayo said, the risk is not severe.
“The vast majority ofpeople who get H1N1 get mild cases, at least right now,” she said.
The bottom line, according to Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, state health officer and director of the Division of Health at KDHE, is that unreported cases are occuring in Kansas and across the United States.
Mayo agreed.
“We do have it in Emporia,” she said. “At least two cases have been confirmed.”
The first case came in June when a young adult who had been living elsewhere returned home to Emporia; the second case came just last week in an Emporia State University.
The symptoms of influenza are:
• Fever greater than 100 degrees
• Body aches
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Respiratory congestion
• In some cases, diarrhea and vomiting
Mayo urged all people with symptoms to stay home. Those with severe symptoms should see their doctors.
But, unless they are hospitalized and have their lab tests sent to the state, they’ll never know whether they have H1N1 or just regular seasonal flu.
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