COLUMBUS ” East Central District Health Department reported Saturday the first case of the H1N1 (swine origin) influenza found in a preschool female in Platte County has been confirmed by the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory.
“This first case of H1N1 in Platte County is a preschool female who has no contacts with Mexico or to individuals who traveled to Mexico,” said East Central District Health District Executive Director Rebecca Rayman. “Children and young adults have been more affected by this virus than older individuals and might potentially be contagious for longer periods of time than adults.”
The Platte County case, now confirmed, was listed as probable late Friday along with two other probable cases and four new confirmed cases that were reported by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services at that time.
“The fact that we have seen a case in Platte County is not surprising,” Rayman said. “There are cases in our neighboring county of Madison and the number of cases in the United States and the world is steadily increasing. This is an equal opportunity virus.”
The new report brings the totals to two probable cases pending confirmation at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory and now 17 confirmed Nebraska-resident cases.
The cases listed as probable are expected to be confirmed in the next reporting cycle.
The two remaining probable cases include one female in her 50s in Kimball County and one male between the ages of 5 and 18 in Madison County.
Four new confirmed cases include a Douglas County male four years old or younger, one female in her 50s in Sarpy County and one male and one female each between the ages of 5-18 in Stanton County.
A probable case is a case that has tested positive for influenza A and is not seasonal flu. A confirmed case is one the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory has determined is a case of H1N1 influenza.
Rayman said the virus is spreading from person-to-person without regard for borders, race or ethnicity, and she expects to see more cases.
Today, there are currently 1,639 laboratory confirmed cases and two deaths in the U.S. Worldwide, there are 3,440 cases in 29 countries.
Rayman said it’s too soon to predict how the virus might change. She said the hallmark of influenza viruses is their ability to undergo constant and dramatic change, but the department anticipates a decrease in flu cases as the typical flu season in the Northern Hemisphere comes to an end.
“At ECDHD, we believe it is important that we continue to watch this virus carefully, to look for changes that may occur in our service area and to make plans now on what we will do if the virus comes back in the fall and is stronger than it was in the spring,” Rayman said. “I would urge our residents not to be complacent and not become lulled into thinking that this virus could not change.”
Platte’s first H1N1 case reported
By Eric Freeman efreeman@columbustelegram.com
Sunday, May 10, 2009 - 12:05:16 am CDT
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and also
May 10, 2009 5:51 PM
parents be smart enough to know that if your kids or yourselves are sick then don't be running around in Walmart or one of the other stores in town. Stay home. My biggest pet peeve is to walk into one of the stores and someone right down the isle is coughing and sniffing and sharing the germs and virus with No regards for anyone else. Be smart enough and repecting of other people to keep out of the lime light until you are well. Thankyou in advance.!.!another thought
May 10, 2009 9:32 PM
If you or your child is ill, STAY HOME! A sick child sent to school will only risk spreading illness. Thank you!TO and also
May 10, 2009 9:45 PM
So we can all assume that anytime you get a sniffle you stay home, miss work and all your obligations? As a general rule, the average healthy person can withstand being around a typically sick person without fear of disaster. This is a NEW strand of sickness, which makes all of us a target. However, having said that, just because you get H1N1 does not mean anything terrible will happen, if you have read up on the illness you will find out that those who are most at risk for the "typical" flu are the same who are at highest risk now.
Children who are sick are very rarely sick ALL THE TIME. They are sick one minute and running around the next, making it difficult for parents to gauge the level of sickness their kids have.
It is a pet peeve when children and adults are out in public when they are knowinly sick, but that is not always the case when people are out sick. Do not judge.
what school
May 10, 2009 10:58 PM
I would like to know what preschool? I have a child in preschool and i would like to know the name?DEAR GOD
May 11, 2009 9:42 AM
Small child that does not understand the tenets of personal hygiene (washing hands, wiping nose, etc.) contracts a case of the flu.Film at 11.
Stay home, drink fluids to flush out your system, rinse, repeat.
This is getting ridiculous.
to and also
May 11, 2009 3:01 PM
Thankyou for saying the almost exact same thing that we both said in our posts. I am so glad that we have to hear a bunch of babble from you before we get down to really knowing what you have to say! That is exactly what I meant, when a parent knowingly knows that they or their child is sick stay home. As a mother I know how sick my child is or not. Yes I will in fact do everything I can to protect mine and others away from it, even if it means missing work ect.ect. The rest of what you said in your post is common sense, if a parent doesn't know that then they shouldnt be a parent. It's called mothers intuition....Your final words you put was do not judge.....What are you doing to us?? Or, are you one of them that go out in public when you or your kid is sick and your just trying to tell people why the bad judgment call on your behalf was made? Get a life.wow
May 11, 2009 4:03 PM
Everyone has something to say about this "flu". So do I.But you know what it's not just kids and such of going out in public. Some people are just down right dirty and need to be introduced to a bar of soap and water! Yes, the obvious stay home if you are ill. blah blah blah
But to the comment of not being a good parent b/c of mothe intuition! Come on. You know as a parent of toddler I always keep my child home if their is a fever or diaherria. However, you know they may only be sick in the morning and then they are running around in the afternoon so the next day I will send them on their way. With children who can not talk and express how they are feeling it's hard. Yes, with a preschooler i would hope they could and that the parent would listen and keep them home.
Hopefully this strand of flu ends soon and everyone can go back out without wondering if they are going to catch it or what not.
Me
May 12, 2009 5:23 AM
everyone needs to keep in mind that just because someone is sniffling and coughing doesn't mean they are contagious. it IS allergy season, i for one am dealing with allergies right now. you would think i was run over by a train from the way i look, feel, and sound--but yet, i'm going to work.to wow
May 12, 2009 8:44 AM
i understand your point. a bar of soap to some people would be the best gift they could ever receive. I know that kids don't stay down very long, even sometimes in bad conditions. This whole thing is common sense. If you or your child suffers from allergies then you know because of mothers intuition what is going on. Do i expect you and them to stay home. No...when they have a "common cold", No. Alot of times I go into our wonderful walmart and their are literally people kids and adults that are in there with what sounds close to the croop, the coughing is so bad. They have no business beng in there. What is really funny about this entire posting section, is that people can't make their minds go to the red or grey areas of what someone else is saying. You find one small thing you don't like and the rest is history. By my posts if you can read between the lines then you will agree with me. If you can't then you won't, I am saying the exact same thing as you only in different words. It's just too bad most don't understand.
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