Local health officials believe swine flu will be found in area
JANESVILLE — Area health officials are planning for the arrival of swine flu.
"Wisconsin right now is still free of swine flu, but I suspect we will see it," said Karen Cain, director of the Rock County Health Department.
The health department has contacted about 50 clinics and businesses across the county to alert people that they should be putting plans together in case of a pandemic, she said.
"Right now, it's really alertness," she said. "We suggest businesses and individuals have their own plan in place on how they'd want to protect themselves."
At least two Rock County residents who had flu-like symptoms tested negative for the swine flu, she said.
"I think it's just a matter of time before it gets here," said Dr. Keith Konkol, infectious disease doctor at Mercy Health System.
Mercy and Dean health system officials have been reviewing their pandemic influenza plans, getting additional facemasks and adding signs with information about swine flu.
Area clinics are asking people showing symptoms of the swine flu to call the clinic before coming in. Both Mercy and Dean health system clinics are requesting symptomatic patients to wear facemasks as they enter a clinic, and masks will be available at front desks or entrances.
"We want them to call ahead so we know they're coming in and prescreen them a little," said Brenda Klahn, employee health nurse and community exposure specialist at Dean Health System.
Mercy is asking symptomatic patients to visit an urgent care center, not the emergency room.
Doctors will continue to test for the flu beyond the normal flu season, which ends today, Konkol said.
If the swine flu hits the area hard, doctors might just treat patients over the phone to avoid travel and to avoid exposing others in a clinic to the virus, he said.
Professionals in the health care industry also are preparing themselves to work with potentially infected patients. For example, symptomatic patients seen at Dean should expect to see staff wearing respirator masks, gowns, goggles and gloves, Klahn said
Notes went home Tuesday with Janesville students alerting parents to be aware of symptoms and to keep sick students home, Mary Kozak, school nurse, said.
Officials recommend everyone practice good hand hygiene—washing often with soap and water. If you cough or sneeze, cover your face with a tissue. If you're sick, stay home.
The public should stay tuned to developments, Klahn said.
"We don't know how big it's going to be, we don't know how small it's going to stay," she said. "It changes daily."
Masks required
Patients with flu symptoms visiting area clinics are asked to wear a facemask. Signs at Mercy clinics ask patients to wear a mask if:
They have visited California, Kansas, Mexico, New York, Ohio or Texas within the last seven days and are experiencing flu-like symptoms or have been in contact with sick people from these areas within the last seven days and are experiencing fever greater than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, sore throat, respiratory congestion, diarrhea or vomiting.
May 1, 2009 at 6:55 p.m.
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MooShoo, according to the CDC, it's already a pandemic. But it's also something that's being blown out of proportion.
There is a case in Rock County. You, or I, who knows....anyone could have been exposed. You don't know. And if you want to drive yourself crazy thinking about it, go ahead.
May 1, 2009 at 4:13 p.m.
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MooShoo!!........WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT???? alot of people are going to die in the next 4-6 weeks??? How would you know that?!? You yourself have just created a "pandemic" by scaring folks 1/2 to death. Shame on you!!
May 1, 2009 at 3:24 p.m.
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And why would anyone rely on PETA's propaganda?
May 1, 2009 at 2:50 p.m.
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Taxed2much
Why on earth would an intellectual like yourself rely on the local paper for your information?
May 1, 2009 at 1:35 p.m.
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Some of you folks are so stupid it is not even funny.
First off, the way they raise pigs in Mexico is different than what they do in the states. Pigs run free, can contaminate each other etc and then spreads to humans. farmers take better care of thier pigs/cattle/sheep/poultry here in the US than many people take care of thier own kids. Yeah there was some HBO special about a hog farm. Big deal. If you get your news from HBO you are dumber than I think you are.
Bird flu is the same way, in asia this is a big deal because the chickens are at the market LIVE. You buy a bird, they cut it's head off and they give it to you to take home and cook. same thing for pigs etc. This allows for things like this to spread.
I have yet to see anything form the local paper about how you CAN NOT get "Swine Flu" from eating pork, or how local producers (not many pig farmers left in Rock county anyways) take steps to avoid these things.
All of the PETA people and those against "factory" farms are hurting our food supply and food saftey more than you think. Producers get tired of your BS and are moving livestock production to South America where they dont have to put up with your crap. Laws there are more lax and we then need to buy our meat from another country. If we all want each farmer to raise 5 pigs and milk 5 cows and raise 20 chickens you could not afford to eat.
Now excuse me as I go grill some tasty pork chops!
May 1, 2009 at 12:51 p.m.
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Anybody still think H1N1 is not serious or is a joke now that it is in Rock County? If it develops into a pandemic, a lot a people are going to die in the next 4 to 6 weeks.
May 1, 2009 at 12:46 p.m.
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Mikki
Where do you think swine flu originated?
The filthy overcrowded conditions farm animals endure are the breeding ground for disease. Maybe you should at least check out the suggested site, you may find it informational.
May 1, 2009 at 11:30 a.m.
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Has anyone else put the slang term to use?
There will be a flu pandemic when "pigs learn to fly!"
Haven't the headlines in the past few days said one incontravertable thing?
"THE SWINE FLU!!!" or is it flew?
May 1, 2009 at 11:15 a.m.
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Mercy's new blogs have the latest information on on H1N1 (Swine) Flu. As a Mercy employee, I've heard many patients say they have found this information very helpful. http://rock.mercyblogs.org/ Our main website has info as well. http://www.mercyhealthsystem.org/body_if...
May 1, 2009 at 10:58 a.m.
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I really don't think that PETA has anything to do with this.
The article is about swine flu, not farms and animal rights.
May 1, 2009 at 10:42 a.m.
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warm- your comment is simply ridiculous and out of line, and, hopefully will be removed soon. I looked at your history and you are FULL of negativity, racism, and, ignorance. I feel very sorry for how lonely and angry and sad your little world must be. I will pray for you.
RUKIDDING- you rock.
May 1, 2009 at 10:12 a.m.
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i can not beleive someone would make such a stupid statement!warm u should change your user name to coldhearted and racist.
May 1, 2009 at 9:38 a.m.
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Every year it's a new Flu... remember the bird flu and how that was big deal to and now you don't hear about. Just was your hands and cover your mouth.
May 1, 2009 at 9:02 a.m.
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Warm, that was WAY out of line!!!!!!!
May 1, 2009 at 8:33 a.m.
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Hey, guess where "patient zero" is, the poor 5 year old Mexican boy, who was the first to be stricken with this vicious disease. He was on the news last night, playing soccer with his brothers. He was sick for two weeks, got better, and probably doesn't even remember it. Kind of like the "regular" flu. Does everyone get where I am going with this...
May 1, 2009 at 6:24 a.m.
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well we always have the common cold, theres no difference
May 1, 2009 at 1:46 a.m.
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In addition to RUKIDDING's very accurate statement. Here is just how it happened...
http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/swine...
May 1, 2009 at 1:37 a.m.
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It's a gift from the farmers practicing disgusting, inhumane, unsanitary and immoral acts against highly intelligent forms of life in the interest of profit, and greed.
Check out the HBO documentary, "Death on a Factory Farm," and let me know if you think the conditions on that Ohio farm wouldn't have led to the same end result.
Blaming the Mexicans is just about as ignorant as blaming the pigs.
Humanity has lost sight of what it is that supposedly makes us humane. The way animals are treated is reprehensable, and this is just one example of several retributions coming our way if we continue along this path.
Why is it we have to lay blame on someone, anyone, when all we need to do is look in the mirror?
Apr 30, 2009 at 6:04 p.m.
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i found some flu masks at walgreens on milton ave.
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