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May 2, 2009 7:33 pm US/Central
State Health Dept. Helps With Cinco De Mayo Party
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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The MDH had a booth where people could ask questions and get information about the virus.
CBS
The state's health department is waiting to hear if Minnesota has more cases of the H1N1 Swine Flu.
On Friday, it sent eight probable samples to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta. Three are from Hennepin County and the others are from Wright, Polk, Dakota, Scott and Isanti Counties. None of those people being tested had to be hospitalized and all are expected to recover.
Across the country, Cinco de Mayo celebrations were cancelled out of fear about the flu. But, in St. Paul, the show went on after a week of discussions between organizers, the City of St. Paul and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
"Both were very supportive of the event and assured us there was no reason to cancel," said Brian Gioiello, marketing director for the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
Gioiello said they added six hand washing stations to the 24 they usually have at the event. The MDH also had a booth where people could ask questions and get information about the virus. Volunteers handed out information reminding people to wash their hands and cover their mouths when they cough.
There wasn't a sense of fear at St. Paul's Fiesta. Plenty of people handed out candy to kids and hugged old friends. Organizers estimate the crowd will hit 100,000 by the end of the weekend -- a normal number for that party.
Diane Pojar and Gloria Flores both attended the Fiesta on Saturday. They've been friends for 40 years, but agreed to disagree on their chances of getting the flu.
"It's horrifying, actually. I'm nervous about it at work or no matter where I'm at, really," said Flores.
Pojar said she wasn't all that concerned and would let her friend worry for her.
"I read about it in the paper all the time," said Pojar. "But I'm not worried that I'm going to get it."
The MDH expects to hear the results from the CDC on its eight probable cases on Monday. So far, state workers have tested about 350 samples. They run three batches a day at their lab in St. Paul. It takes five hours to run a batch.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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