Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

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I am not a doctor, virologist, or any of type of medical/life sciences professional.

I am a layman with a background in the physical sciences.

University of Alabama officials have confirmed at least 50 cases of influenza on campus, most of them likely the swine flu.
Auburn University's medical clinic also reported six cases of the disease today...
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/08/uni ... urn_r.html

(same link as last post)
The illness is hitting K-12 schools as well. Trussville city schools, for example, have seven confirmed cases of novel H1N1 influenza and Vestavia Hills city schools have eight suspected cases...
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/08/uni ... urn_r.html

Just 8 days into the new school year and already possible cases of the H1N1 flu are popping up in local schools.
More youngsters than normal for this time of the year are staying home or being sent home with flu-like symptoms.
But, school administrators are stressing they are not alarmed and you shouldn't be either.
And, in Elmore County, the situation may be worse according to administrator Billy Womble. "We have had and this is updated since yesterday between 50 and 55 confirmed cases of the flu. Now, in saying that they're testing Type A flu at all the doctors' offices and it comes back positive you probably have H1N1."
Doctors are now testing for the flu in their offices whereas before test results were sent to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. But, the Public Health Department's Dr. Charles Woernle says now doctors can come closer to a diagnosis. "They are not specific for H1N1, but since we have so much H1N1 out there that if the rapid test is positive then you likely got the H1N1 disease."
http://www.wsfa.com/global/story.asp?s=10959445

The Public Health Department says what's different this year is we're having so much flu in August. That's very atypical and supports the notion that we do have a new pandemic influenza. Doctors recommend if your child does come down with a fever to keep him home at least 24 hours after the fever is gone and that's without medication.

Baptist Medical Centers tell us they have seen an increase in people coming in with flu-like symptoms.

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Baldwin County Flu Outbreak


Pat Peterson Doctors across Baldwin County are treating dozens of flu cases this week including the dangerous H1N1 "swine flu" strain.

"There are a lot of outbreaks in different countries already and because of global travel, people must be bringing it in different areas," says Dr. Awadhesh Gupta who practices medicine in Foley.

Most of the patients are children. If a test looks positive, physicians are calling it swine flu.

"If you have Type A, there's a very likely chance that you have one of the new Novel H1N1 which is also called swine flu," says Gupta.

School officials are concerned. At least 25 flu cases have been reported at schools across Baldwin County this week, with at least one new case reported daily. Some of the cases are confirmed H1N1. By the end of the month, every school will have an active case.

http://www.wkrg.com/medical/article/bal ... 9_6-57-pm/

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Mobile-area schools grapple with flu reports

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/m ... xml&coll=3

Swine flu in Baldwin
County schools
Interesting part about this one is because of lack of tax revenue they will be reducing the number of staff nurses next week by 13 nurses in the middle of a pandemic. By the end of next week Baldwin expects to have a flu case in every school.
http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/Swine_F ... ty_Schools

With classes back in session, flu cases, including the H1N1 variety, are already showing up on Baldwin County public and private school campuses, educators said Tuesday.

On Monday, a parent called St. Patrick Catholic School in Robertsdale to report that one student had been confirmed by a doctor as having the H1N1 variety, commonly known as swine flu, said Sister Margaret Harte, school principal.

Several students have also been diagnosed with the flu strain in public schools, said Terry Wilhite, Baldwin County Board of Education spokesman. Wilhite said he could not confirm how many cases had been reported. "It's less than a dozen over (system's) 45 schools," he said.

Wilhite said some parents had reported to school officials that their children had tested positive for the flu, but that the children's doctors had not tested them for the specific H1N1 strain. He said general flu cases have been reported in 22 Baldwin County public schools since classes began Aug. 10.

"Every year, we have sick students from Day 1, but to have this amount of flu-like symptoms this early is surprising," Wilhite said.

Wilhite said the increase in flu cases, as well as other conditions such as strep throat and common colds, comes at a time when school officials are having to cut back on medical personnel because of money shortages.

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/b ... xml&coll=3

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The above quote suggest the school system needs a reality check.

In the US at this time of year, virtually all cases of influenza (over 99%) are swine flu. Summer colds and other respirtaory diseases are fairly rare. Swine flu symptoms include a sore throat and runny nose.

The VAST majority of "sick students from Day 1" are swine flu cases.

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