Public Health Emergency Declared for Swine Flu,
No Local Cases Reported So Far

Acting Health Commissioner Julia Sheen announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has declared a public health emergency as a result of 20 confirmed cases of Swine Influenza H1N1 viruses in the United States. The H1N1 viruses are the same strain of swine flu that has caused 81 deaths in Mexico.

There have been no local cases reported thus far.

The emergency declaration was made at a White House briefing on Sunday with assistants to President Barack Obama and officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) present. The five states with varying number of cases confirmed are: New York - 8; California - 7; Kansas - 2; Texas - 2; and Ohio - 1.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that emergency declaration was "Standard Operation Procedure," much like getting prepared for a hurricane, in order to free up resources and medications as necessary. 

Locally, Gov. John P. deJongh Jr. and Health Department officials are monitoring the situation along with officials from the territory's hospitals, V.I. Homeland Security, VITEMA and the Department of Tourism. 

On Sunday, Acting Commissioner Sheen said that with the Carnival Village set to open on Monday and the Food Fair set for Wednesday, some residents had expressed concerns about certain foods.

"Eating pork will not cause Swine flu infection, so residents can enjoy their favorite Carnival foods," Sheen said, adding that at Sunday's White House briefing, U.S. Homeland Security Janet Napolitano also made it clear that pork consumption is safe and not a risk for contracting Swine flu.

U.S. Health officials, working in concert with officials from Mexico, Canada and members of the World Health Organization, say that preliminary investigations show that the Swine flu virus affecting people in the United States is the same virus affecting people in Mexico. In the U.S. however, the majority of patients with the disease have been described as "mild" while many of those in Mexico have been described as "severe."

The CDC said it is investigating a "unique combination of gene segments that have not been reported previously among swine or human influenza viruses in the United States or elsewhere."

Acting CDC Director Richard Besser, who was at Sunday's briefing, said that the agency has "ramped up" its surveillance in the event that a new vaccine must be developed to treat the new strain and encouraged residents to visit the CDC website, at www.cdc.gov for "credible information." Information will be updated daily, he said.

Homeland Security's Customs and Border Patrol officers will also conduct surveillance along U.S. borders, asking questions of residents as they come in about their travels. 

However, neither the CDC nor the U.S. State Department has issued travel advisories to Mexico at this time but they have urged those who feel ill not to travel via airplane or bus where they can come in contact with others. Those who have traveled to Mexico and feel ill thereafter, should seek medical attention.

Acting Commissioner Sheen is urging residents to take common sense approaches such as washing hands and staying home when sick. Local physicians should contact the Health Department Epidemiologist Dr. Eugene Tull to report suspected cases at 773-1311, Ext. 3241.

Meanwhile, the CDC is currently recommending the use of oseltamavir or zanamivir only for the treatment of patients ill with the Swine flu virus.

Swine flu symptoms are similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal respiratory influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, and nausea.

The V.I. Department of Health is in regular communication with the CDC and other Government agencies and will continue to keep the Virgin Islands community informed of ongoing developments and advice regarding this illness.

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