DHEC: 10 "Probable" Swine Flu Cases in South Carolina

The Department of Health and Environmental Control says Wednesday that ten probable cases of swine flu virus have been identified in South Carolina.

Listen to Wednesday's News Conference

The ten people who appear to have the virus are all associated in some way with a recent Newberry Academy school trip to Mexico. Dr. Jerry Gibson, chief of DHEC’s Bureau of Disease Control, said the ten have been asked to voluntarily isolate themselves for a short time.

In addition the DHEC says there are 41 "suspect" cases throughout South Carolina.

Anyone who was exposed to them is asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves at home. Those in isolation will receive appropriate care, Gibson said.

Newberry Academy Headmaster Bob Dawkins tells News Channel 7 Wednesday that none of the eight additional probable cases involve students at the school. Dawkins says DHEC told him they were people who closely associated with students - boyfriends and girlfriends for example - after returning from the trip to Cancun, Mexico.

"Samples that are untypeable and considered probable cases are being sent to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further evaluation and testing," said Jerry Gibson, M.D., chief of DHEC's Bureau of Disease Control in a written release. "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."

At a press conference Wednesday, Dr. Jerry Gibson said there are a total of 41 suspect cases. Those are people who traveled to a high risk area or had contact with someone who has a proven case of the flu. Those people have also been asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves. Half of these cases are in other areas of the state, including Horry County.

Dr. Gibson said South Carolinians should wash their hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes with their sleeve (not a hand), and if anyone has signs or symptoms of influenza, avoid crowds and if symptoms become severe, contact your health care provider.

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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.

Facing down swine flu

WASHINGTON (AP) - World governments racing to find and contain
pockets of swine flu face both the threat of a pandemic and public
panic.
The virus is suspected in up to 152 deaths in Mexico.

Worldwide there are 79 cases, including six in Canada, one in Spain and two in Scotland. Most countries are reporting only mild
cases so far and travelers are being screened.
Spain reported the first confirmed case outside North America.
It says another 17 people are suspected of having the virus.

Scotland's health secretary is also confirming Britain's first two cases; seven others are suspected there.
New Zealand's health minister says his country has 11 confirmed cases of swine flu, the first in the Asia region. And a hospital in
Israel has confirmed that country's first case of swine flu.

The European Union health commissioner is advising Europeans to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico and the U.S.
Germany's largest holiday tour operator is suspending all flights to Mexico City.

And the head of the European Commission has called for a meeting of EU health ministers.
The World Bank says it will send Mexico $25 million in loans for immediate aid.

New Zealand, Israel confirm 12 swine flu cases

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand's health minister and
an Israeli hospital are reporting the first confirmed cases of
swine flu to hit the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific regions.

New Zealand Health Minister Tony Ryall reports 11 cases. Those
infected are members of group of students and teachers who returned
recently from a trip to Mexico, where the virus is suspected in
more than 150 deaths.

The other case is in Netanya, an Israeli city north of Tel Aviv.
Laniado Hospital's medical director says Health Ministry laboratory tests confirm swine flu in a 26-year-old patient who recently
returned from Mexico.
Dr. Avinoam Skolnik says he doesn't know whether the strain is the same as the Mexican variety. Skolnik said Tuesday that the patient has fully recovered and is in "excellent condition."

NYC school says teacher is among swine flu cases

NEW YORK (AP) - The head of a New York City high school says one
of the 28 people who have confirmed cases of swine flu at the school is a teacher.

Brother Leonard Conway of St. Francis Preparatory in Queens said Monday that 10 teachers are experiencing flu like symptoms.
He says that 160 students have called out sick since last week and that parents have called about other new cases.

City officials said earlier that tests had confirmed 28 definite cases and 17 probable cases of swine flu at the school.
An outbreak of swine flu has killed dozens in Mexico, where some St. Francis students recently went on spring break.
St. Francis has closed at least for the day. Conway says officials will meet Tuesday to decide when to reopen.

Mexico faces criticism over swine flu response

MEXICO CITY (AP) - The Mexican response to the swine flu outbreak shows signs of confusion and disorganization even as the suspected death toll has climbed to 152.
Two weeks after the first known swine flu death, Mexico still hasn't given medicine to the families of the dead. It hasn't determined where the outbreak began or how it spread.

And while the government urges anyone who feels sick to go to hospitals, feverish people complain ambulance workers are scared to pick them up.
Foreign health officials are hesitant to speak critically about Mexico's response, saying they want to wait until more details

emerge before passing judgment. But Mexicans are questioning the government's image of a country that has the crisis under control.
Meanwhile, Mexico's Agriculture Department says inspectors found no sign of swine flu among pigs in the area where the first confirmed Mexican case occurred. It also says no infected pigs have been found yet anywhere in Mexico.

Homeland chief says US preparing for full pandemic

WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of the Homeland Security Department says the United States is preparing as if the swine flu outbreak is a full pandemic.
Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters Monday that the World Health Organization is operating at level three, with level six a full pandemic.
She said officials at the WHO were meeting Monday to consider whether to raise the level.
Napolitano said the U.S. is proceeding as if it were preparing for a full pandemic.
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Dr. Richard Besser says it's not an easy decision, because vaccine manufacture takes a long time and would interrupt ongoing work to create next winter's regular flu shot.

But if a vaccine eventually is ordered, the CDC already has taken a key preliminary step -- creating what's called seed stock of the virus that manufacturers would use.

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Under the new rules, doctors will be able to use the drugs for a wider range of the population in case mass treatment is needed to deal with swine flu.

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Dr. Richard Besser was asked at a news conference Monday afternoon if that is a precaution that people should be taking in the wake of indications the disease has spread substantially in Mexico and is showing up in five U.S. states.
Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control, said the evidence "is not that strong" that the wearing of protective masks effectively limits the outbreak of such diseases.

Besser said that for now he'd prefer to focus on regular hand-washing, and people "not giving that little kiss of greeting that they're used to right now."

U.S. officials advising no unnecessary travel to Mexico

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to Mexico.
Dr. Richard Besser made that disclosure during a news conference in Atlanta, saying the advisory was being released "out of an abundance of caution."

Besser also reported there have been 50 confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States, including 20 in New York City. He said individuals can help to keep the disease from spreading by taking everyday precautions such as frequent handwashing, covering up coughs and sneezes and staying away from work or school if not feeling well.

Homeland: Travel limited until flu abates

WASHINGTON (AP) - The head of the Homeland Security Department says travel warnings to Mexico will remain in place as long as swine flu is detected.
Secretary Janet Napolitano made the announcement at a news conference Monday. She said the Centers for Disease Control had issued an alert and the State Department's version would be forthcoming.

The virus began in Mexico and had spread to the United States and beyond, with 50 cases reported in the U.S. Napolitano said she had been in touch with Mexican officials and border state leaders to coordinate responses to the outbreak.

Napolitano urged Americans to use common sense in dealing with the outbreak, such as frequent hand washing and remaining home from work if ill.

Feds see no current cause to avoid travel to US

ATLANTA (AP) - A top federal health official says he believe it is "premature" to urge people not to travel to the United States in the wake of the swine flu breakout.

Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was asked Monday about an advisory in which the European Union counseled people in member countries against travel to both the United States and Mexico.

Speaking only for the United States, Besser said that as of now, "I think it is quite premature" to tell people they shouldn't travel to this country. Besser said there has been only a single hospitalization for swine flu in the United States that officials know about, although some 50 cases have been identified.

Obama: Swine flu not a reason for 'alarm'

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the spread of swine flu is a cause for concern but "not a cause of alarm" and he's staying on top of the problem.

Obama told a gathering of scientists Monday that the administration is "closely monitoring" cases of swine flu, how many people have it and what the threat is. Obama also said the American people can expect to get regular and frequent updates about what Washington is doing. He said the swine flu threat dramatizes how the United States cannot allow itself to fall behind in scientific and medical research.

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The bug is a suspect in more than 150 deaths and 1,400 cases in Mexico, with confirmed cases in the U.S., Canada, and Spain. Though Wall Street remains concerned that swine flu could put a damper on any global economic recovery, several companies could benefit.

Gainers include Gilead Sciences, which gets royalties for drugmaker Roche's Tamiflu treatment. The stock rose almost 4 percent.

Shares of GlaxoSmithKline, which makes the anti-flu drug Relenza, are up almost 8 percent. Quidel, which makes rapid flu tests, rose almost 5 percent.

CONCACAF cancels U-17 tourney over swine flu
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CONCACAF also will delay the second leg of its Champions League final between CD SC Cruz Azul and Atlante FC, both Mexican clubs, for two weeks, until May 12.

Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and the United States had clinched spots in Wednesday's semifinals of the U-17 tournament, which was being played in Tijuana. But after the Mexican government announced it was closing schools nationwide, CONCACAF decided to abandon the tournament "to safeguard the health of players, officials and fans."

CONCACAF stands for Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.

Congress to probe swine flu outbreak

WASHINGTON (AP) - The spread of the new swine flu strain has caught Congress' attention and hearings are planned this week.

One Senate subcommittee will explore the public health response at a hearing Tuesday while Homeland Security Secretary Janet

Napolitano is to testify before a Senate panel on Wednesday. It'll be the House's turn Thursday as other health experts are scheduled to tell a subcommittee about the risk of the flu spreading.

The swiftly organized hearings were inspired by the outbreak of 50 cases of swine flu in the U.S. So far, no one in the U.S. is known to have died from the illness unlike Mexico, where the virus is suspected in up to 152 deaths.

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue's office released this statement on Monday concerning the situation:

I am monitoring the world health situation closely. I am confident that North Carolina is prepared to respond to any suspected cases of swine flu. North Carolina is equipped with a full supply of antiviral medications and personal protective supplies such as face masks. We have public health teams ready to deploy to any community in our state that needs assistance.

At this time it is important that North Carolinians continue to be vigilant and to take precautions. The steps you can take to protect yourself are simple:

- Wash your hands frequently
- Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing
- Stay at home from school or work if you are sick

Obama: Swine Flu Not a Reason for 'Alarm'

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama says the spread of swine flu is a cause for concern but "not a cause of alarm" and he's staying on top of the problem.

He said the swine flu threat dramatizes how the United States cannot allow itself to fall behind in scientific and medical research.

News Channel 7 wanted to know what South Carolina state health officials here are doing to protect you against the swine flu.

DHEC said they've stepped up their tracking of flu cases in the state. They are asking doctors to perform rapid flu tests on patients they suspect of having the flu.

They say patients should inform their doctors if they have traveled out of the country. Patients also need to tell their doctors about any contact with animals such as pigs, which carry the virus.