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closeTuesday, Jun. 30, 2009
Tests confirm Tri-Citian has swine flu
By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer
Area health officials learned Monday that a Tri-City resident has a confirmed case of H1N1 influenza, known as the swine flu.
A sample taken from a Tri-Citian and sent to the state Department of Health's laboratory tested positive for the disease, said Heather Hill, communicable disease program manager for the Benton-Franklin Health District.
It is the first confirmed case in Benton or Franklin counties.
The state is collecting samples only from people hospitalized or who have died after being diagnosed with Influenza A, a family of flu viruses that includes the seasonal flu as well as swine flu.
Hill said the Tri-Citian diagnosed with swine flu is not hospitalized locally, but did not know where the person has been admitted.
The state health department notifies the district if a resident is confirmed to have the disease even though the person is not currently in the area, she said.
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health said no information about the case or the patient's location could be released.
Also Monday, Umatilla County health officials said that a child in the Umatilla School District has been confirmed to be sick with swine flu.
The child was attending summer school and was sent home after symptoms emerged. Symptoms were mild and the child was not hospitalized, said Genni Lehnert, administrator for the Umatilla County Health Department.
It is the fourth confirmed swine flu case in Umatilla County, Lehnert said.
As of Friday, 86 people in Washington had been hospitalized with lab-confirmed swine flu.
Three people have died.
In Oregon, 291 swine flu cases and three deaths were reported as of Friday.
The World Health Organization declared H1N1 flu a global pandemic June 11, meaning a worldwide outbreak had begun.
The World Health Organization has confirmed 70,893 cases of the disease and 311 deaths worldwide, including 27,717 cases and 127 deaths in the United States.
Public health officials are advising frequent hand-washing to prevent the spread of disease. Other tips include:
-- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or shirt sleeve when you sneeze or cough
-- Stay home from work or school if sick
-- See a doctor if you have a fever above 100 degrees, respiratory symptoms including cough or sore throat, and symptoms are severe enough to indicate the need for hospitalization.
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