Swine flu protocols in place
By Tom Callis
Peninsula Daily News
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If the virus spreads in the fall and winter at the same rate that it is spreading now in Australia, the flu, which is relatively mild, could become more of a threat on the Peninsula, he said.
World health officials said the virus is spreading quickly through the southern-hemisphere nation, which is heading into winter and had recorded up to 1,260 cases H1N1 cases as of Wednesday.
"What goes on in the southern hemisphere is a predictor of what is going to happen in the northern hemisphere next fall," Locke said.
"The worse things are in the southern hemisphere, the more urgent it is for us to do pandemic preparedness in this country."
Peninsula cases
The Peninsula's confirmed swine flu cases involved a Port Townsend woman under the age of 20, a Sequim woman in her 30s and her husband. Each of the three -- all unidentified by local health authorities -- had mild cases and recovered without hospitalization, Locke said.
Although the illness the virus causes is typically mild, the World Health Organization declared swine flu to be a pandemic Thursday because of its spread to 74 countries, with 28,774 cases and 144 deaths.
In comparison, the seasonal flu kills about 250,000 to 500,000 people each year.
As of June 3, there were 574 confirmed cases in the state, with 40 hospitalizations and one death because of complications of the flu, Locke said.
Nationwide, more than 13,000 cases of swine flu have been reported, with at least 27 deaths.
Severity, rate
But whether Clallam and Jefferson counties choose to close public facilities and events, Locke said, depends upon two things: the severity of the illness and the rate at which it spreads.
Even if most of the swine flu cases remain mild this fall and winter, Locke said such closures may need to be implemented if the rate of spread can't be controlled.
"Half of the community can't be sick at one time," he said. "Everything would grind to a halt.
"It's definitely in the toolbox, so to speak. Whether or not we have to use them or not depends upon how things unfold. That we can't really predict."
The pandemic declaration is expected to result in the creation of a vaccine, which should be available in September.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: June 14. 2009 10:02PM