Two new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Labette County, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Kansas to 100.
State health officials said Friday that two adults in the county were suffering from the virus. They are the first two confirmed cases in southeast Kansas. The Wilson County Health Department continues to work closely with KDHE and area health providers to monitor the local situation. There have been no suspected or confirmed cases reported in Wilson County at this time.
Of the state's 100 confirmed cases, Geary County has the highest number, with 25, while Riley County has confirmed 23 cases. Confirmed swine flu cases have been found in a total of 17 counties.
Wilson County Health Department and Emergency Management says the symptoms of H1N1 flu virus in humans are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include:
Fever greater than 100 degrees
Body aches
Coughing
Sore throat
Respiratory congestion
In some cases, diarrhea and vomiting
Seasonal flu occurs every year and viruses change each year, but many people have some immunity to the circulating virus which helps limit infections. However, H1N1 is a new virus and one to which most people have little or no immunity; therefore there is a possibility that this virus could cause more infections than are seen with seasonal flu. Individuals with the above symptoms should contact their physician, who will determine whether testing or treatment is needed.
As with any influenza virus, individuals are encouraged to take the following steps to reduce spread:
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.
Additional information about H1N1 flu can be found at http://www.kdheks.gov/H1N1/ or http://www.cdc.gov .
