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May 2, 2009 10:32 pm US/Central
Caution As State Awaits H1N1 Swine Flu Tests
(WCCO)
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As of Saturday, there are three probable cases in Hennepin County and one probable case each in Scott, Wright, Polk, Isanti, and Dakota.
CBS
It's looking more likely that Minnesota is dealing with additional cases of H1N1 swine flu. There is one confirmed case of the new strain of flu in Stearns County.
As of Saturday, there are three probable cases in Hennepin County and one probable case each in Scott, Wright, Polk, Isanti, and Dakota.
The state health department said no one has been hospitalized due to the illness and everyone is expected to recover. Across the border in Wisconsin, the first three cases have just been confirmed. Two of them are from Milwaukee County. The other is in Adams County. There are 25 probable cases in Wisconsin.
The Minnesota Department of Health won't get confirmation from the CDC until Monday on the new samples, but state health officials said there's a 95 percent chance they are H1N1 swine flu.
Luckily, all of the Minnesota suspected cases are mild. But, health officials say everyone needs to be aware of the possibility of transmitting the illness and do their part to prevent it.
At this year's Cinco De Mayo celebration in St. Paul, the party went on with a few added precautions.
Organizers added extra hand-washing stations and the state health department was there to answer questions. Meanwhile, Minnesota's public health lab has been busy processing about 350 samples to see if they may match the new strain.
"Public health is working on the situation day-in-and-day-out at this point," said Kris Ehresmann, Director of Infectious Disease.
About 1/3 of the cases nationwide are connected to visits to Mexico. In this latest batch of probable cases, Ehresmann says there's also a connection.
"In a couple of the cases there was travel to Mexico, which we hadn't seen in the earlier cases," he said.
But there are few other similarities. The new suspected cases in Minnesota range in age from toddler to adult. Fortunately, everyone is expected to be all right, but health officials are trying to stay prepared if the illness changes.
"We're in a fluid situation in that certainly the strain could evolve and present itself with cases of disease that are more severe than we've seen at this point," explained Ehresmann.
Health department continues to stress hand washing, covering coughs and listening to your body.
"Definitely stay home if you're sick, we don't want people out spreading disease," advised Ehresmann.
Health officials say if you have a high fever and upper respiratory symptoms that make you feel bad enough to stay in bed, you should call your doctor. If you feel this sick, officials say you shouldn't go to work, school or church.
Church leaders in St. Cloud are taking precautions against spreading the disease. The bishop of the 16-county Diocese of St. Cloud told leaders that parishioners should not shake or hold hands during worship. Pastors were also advised to provide hand sanitizer and tissues.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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