Swine Flu Found in NY

Mayor Bloomberg said Sunday federal health officials have found that eight prep school students in Queens do have swine flu.

He urged New Yorkers to stay home from work if they have any symptoms of the flu – but also urged people not to panic or flood hospital emergency rooms.

“If you have a cough or a sore throat stay home,” Bloomberg said at a morning news conference. “Do not go to work or school and if you’re not very sick don’t go to the hospital.”

Swine flu is a respiratory infection caused by influenza type A viruses that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can occur.

Human cases typically involve people who have had direct contact with pigs, but the CDC said likely person-to-person transmission has now been reported in California, Texas, Mexico and New York City.

The U.S. is declaring a public health emergency to deal with the emerging new swine flu.

While the cases in Mexico have had a high fatality rate, the confirmed cases in the U.S. have been mild and all patients have recovered without treatment.

The symptoms of swine flu in people appear to be similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting as well.

The NYC Department of Health has issued the following warnings to prevent the spreading of the disease:

Patients experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek health care and treatment. Otherwise, the Health Department recommends at-home care. If affected students at the school in question have household contacts at high risk for complications from influenza – young children, the elderly, and people with chronic illness – those at risk should receive preventive treatment. The most effective way to lower the risk of transmission is for people with symptoms to stay home.

All New Yorkers should cover their mouths when they cough. Additional precautions:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.