Two "Probable" Swine Flu Cases Found In S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control say they have received lab results for the suspected cases of swine flu.

DHEC says two of the samples taken at Newberry Academy are "probable" cases of swine flu.

“Of the viruses sampled, two were type A, unsubtypable. That means, because this is a novel virus, we will assume that these two cases that were tested at the lab do have the new swine flu virus and these will now be considered ‘probable cases,’ so they are being sent to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further evaluation and testing,” said Jerry Gibson, M.D., chief of DHEC’s Bureau of Disease Control. “We expect that those who are sick to voluntarily isolate themselves for a short time, and those who were exposed should voluntarily quarantine themselves at home. DHEC will assure those in isolation will receive appropriate treatment.

“These steps are asked not only to help exposed and infected citizens, but also to protect others from exposure and illness, and to prevent further spread,” Dr. Gibson said. “Isolation and quarantine are used to protect your family, friends, and others from the virus.”

Most of the tests were performed at Newberry Academy, where students reported getting sick after a trip to Mexico.

DHEC says a total of 22 people were tested, including 12 students & 1 chaperone from the Mexico trip, plus 9 people they may have come in contact with.

Here are their results for 10 of the 22 tested yesterday:

-6 “confident they don’t have flu”

-2 “likely or probable”

-2 “inconclusive”

The 2 likely and 2 inconclusive test results are now being sent to the CDC to be retested. Those results could take weeks because of the high volume of cases nationwide.

The other 12 are being tested and DHEC expects the results soon.

Newberry Academy has made the decision to close the school until Monday, May 4th.

In Buncombe County, North Carolina two people who traveled to Mexico have been tested for swine flu.

Those samples have been sent to a state lab in Raleigh. If they test positive for the flu those results should be available within the next day according to the Buncombe County Health Center.

Buncombe County Health Director Gibbie Harris says if they do not test positive, the samples will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control to test for the swine flu. Those results should be available later in the week.

The Buncombe County Health Center has set up a Swine Flu Hotline. The number is 828-250-6400. There is a recorded message which answers basic questions and callers can leave a message if they wish to request more information.

You can learn more about swine flu by visiting a special section of wspa.com. Just click here

US reports 50 cases

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - Health officials in the U.S. are now reporting 50 swine flu cases. Most of the cases are mild and none fatal.

The government is shipping millions of doses of flu-fighting medicine from a federal stockpile to states along the Mexican border or where the virus has been detected.

The confirmed U.S. cases included 28 at a private high school in New York City, 13 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio. Only one American case has led to a hospitalization.

President Barack Obama characterized the U.S. cases as a cause for concern but not "a cause for alarm." The federal government said travel warnings for trips to Mexico would remain in place as long as swine flu is detected.

Public health experts cautioned that screenings are not foolproof. People with the flu can spread the virus to others before any symptoms show up.

WHO raises pandemic flu alert level to phase 4

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico says the World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert for swine flu by one level, two steps short of declaring a full-blown pandemic

Mexico health department spokesman Carlos Olmos confirms the move.

WHO says the phase 4 alert means sustained human to human transmission causing outbreaks in at least one country. It signals a significant increase in the risk of a global epidemic, but doesn't mean a pandemic is inevitable.

Many experts think it may be impossible to contain a flu virus already spreading in several countries.

WHO has confirmed human cases of swine flu in Mexico, the United States, Canada and Spain. Only Mexico has reported deaths from the new strain.

WHO: Americans may be transmitting swine flu

GENEVA (AP) - The World Health Organization says it suspects U.S. swine flu patients may have transmitted the virus to others in the United States.

Confirmation would indicate the new flu strain is spreading beyond those travelers returning from Mexico.

The global health agency says so far, most people confirmed with swine flu were infected in Mexico. But WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl
says the source of some infections in the United States, Canada and Britain is unclear.

Hartl told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday that WHO suspects people are infecting others with the disease in other locations than Mexico.