Swine Flu fears at a private school in Queens: press conference

Videos

BREAKING NEWS: Swine Flu in NYC?

see larger video

sourced by Mary Richard

• 

  Created by Mary Richard | add comment

• 

  Created by Mary Richard | add comment

Early reports are suggesting that some family members of the Queens school students are reporting flu-like symptons, which mean the virus is spreading:

Press conference by Dr. Thomas R. Frieden about swine flu fears at a private school in Queens:

Eight students have tested positive for the type A strain of influenza and the school has begun the process of santizing the entire school. Classes are still scheduled to begin on Monday as usual.

In every case, the illness was mild and no child is seriously ill.

Samples were sent to the public health department and eight were confirmed positive for type A.

Influenza can by Type A or Type B and then further tests are needed to determine the sub-type, and in the case of these students, all details will be made available tomorrow.

Due to the spread of swine flu from person to person it can make this situation more dangerous than others.

There are a number of people who are severly ill in Mexico, but so far every one in the United States has a mild case.

The New York Health Commission is in contact with all hospitals in the area with information on how to test for swine flu and who to test and how to prevent the spread. This is not a cause for alarm at this point however.

They will have a closer look at the CDC testing tomorrow and the New York Health Commission will advise not to re-open the school on Monday if the results are found to be the A (H1N1) type of swine flu. They are also warning that people with other underlying health issues such as pregnancy or heart problems, should be treated if they feel ill, as a prevetative measure.

For the general public:

When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth

If you are sick, stay home

If you are not very sick but think you might have the flu and wouldn't go to the hospital normally, don't go now as the hospital needs to keep their staff and beds open for sicker people

You cannot get swine flu from eating pork.

Previous news:

The news conference has been delayed by one hour; it will now be held at 4pm EST.

An unscheduled news conference is to be held by the New York City Health Department today at 3pm EST, and it is thought to be related to a potential swine flu outbreak at a St. Francis Prepartory School, a private school in Queens.

The Centre for Disease Control however have stated that there are no new confirmed cases of swine flu in the United States, but they are very concerned about it.

75 students complained of flu symptons at the St. Francis Prepartory School in Queens, including nausea, fever, dizziness and aches and pains. Some of the students have recently traveled to Mexico, where over 60 people have died from a swine flu outbreak.

Eight cases have been found in the United States, but none of them were deadly.

Health officials were sent to St. Francis School on Friday and tests are being conducted.

The press conference today will hopefully shed some light on what has happened there and if there is any connection.

The World Health Organisation has warned that this virus could become a global pandemic and tests have revealed that 12 of the Mexican patients that died carried the new strain of swine flu, H1N1, seen in the American cases.