Swine flu update for Austin/Travis County
Swine flu update for Austin/Travis County
Written by Community Impact Newspaper Staff Tuesday, 05 May 2009
As of May 4, Austin/Travis County Emergency Operations Center continues to actively monitor developments in regards to the 2009 H1N1 Flu virus. Austin/Travis County and partners in the education and health care industries are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state guidelines regarding appropriate tracking, containment and response to cases as they arise.
Local healthcare providers continue to provide updates on positive Influenza A tests at their respective facilities. Note that a positive Influenza A test does not reflect a “confirmed” case. It means that the sample is forwarded for further testing and typing.
Total number of positive tests for Influenza A are as follows:
| Network | Past 24 Hours | Total |
| Seton Family of Hospitals | 6 | 46 |
| St. David’s HealthCare | 5 | 38 |
| Austin Regional Clinic | 0 | 21 |
| Scott + White Healthcare | 0 | 1 |
| *ARC has received results from the state on one of these cases and it tested as seasonal flu. | ||
Local hospitals are noting a stabilization in the number of cases with influenza-like illness but that does not particularly mean that there are fewer cases in the Central Texas area.
Residents exhibiting fever and other symptoms are encouraged to contact their primary care provider first before going to an emergency room for evaluation and treatment.
- As expected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed one case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Travis County in a 5-year-old boy.
- Williamson County is now reporting two probable cases, as of May 4. Both were tested on or around April 27, and both individuals were isolated and treated, and have recovered.
As state and CDC labs respond to the surge in flu sample specimens sent in for analysis, they expect to see more probable and confirmed cases of Influenza A in the area over the coming days. It’s important to note that as these results come back, it isn’t a reflection of new cases or cases that are an imminent threat to public health. In fact, all of those who have tested positive are undergoing treatment and may have already recovered from the illness.
In the event the World Health Organization raises this event to a Phase 6 and declares a pandemic — that means the disease is widespread and global — it is not an indicator of the severity of the illness.
Take steps to protect your health and your family’s health and minimize the spread of this new virus:
- Wash your hands often.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve and not your hands.
- If you feel sick, stay home from work or school and contact your primary care doctor. Only go to the emergency room if it is truly an emergency.
Area school districts have taken these added precautions:
- Austin Independent School District suspended all out-of-district field trips for students effective through May 11. Austin ISD activated a telephone hotline for parents who have questions about school operations during the current outbreak of North American Flu, 414-9967. Information is also available at www.austinisd.org.
Parents who have medical questions may call AISD Health Services at 324-0195 or the Texas Department of State Health Services at 888-777-5320. - Round Rock Independent School District suspended all extra-curricular events and field trips until May 11.
- Pflugerville Independent School District canceled field trips and other school-related student travel, public meetings and programs, non-District use of facilities, UIL activities, facility rentals with the exception of normally scheduled church service rentals and field days unless totally operated by campus staff.
As a precautionary measure, Austin Water Utility has cancelled its annual Water Science Expo, an educational event for AISD fifth and sixth graders scheduled to take place May 7-8.
