The Grand Traverse County Health Dept. warns: This is the week for Swine Flu to hit our community
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The Grand Traverse County Health Department is warning that the Swine Flu is here and cases are only expected to increase.
Health officials are sending out letters to parents in the community to keep a close eye on children. The health department says over the weekend, the number of rapid tests for influenza done in the Munson labs went up from about 20 a day to 35-40 a day. The number of positive tests are increasing as well and officials say the trend will continue in the coming week.
School leaders are reporting an increase in student and staff absences, and two Northern Michigan districts are shutting down to allow students to recover and disinfect the buildings. Evart Public Schools and East Jordan Schools are closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Grand Traverse County health department says the increase in N1H1 cases is not a reason to panic. Parents are being asked to encourage common sense measures of hygiene for their children. The best defense against the flu is frequent hand washing, avoid hand to face contact like rubbing your eyes or nose. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or into your sleeve, rather than your hands or into the air. Keep your children home from school if they seem to be developing flu or cold-like symptoms.
Officials say most people who develop Swine Flu will have a few uncomfortable days but will recover without any special measures other than bed rest, hydration, and fever reducing medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen. If your child has a chronic medical condition such as asthma or diabetes, or if there is difficulty breathing, confusion, or an extremely high fever you should contact your child's physician.
For more information on the N1H1 virus click on the links below:
http://www.co.grand-traverse.mi.us/departments/health.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/
