Swine Flu: Modesto-area hospitals and schools asked to watch for illness

As the number of swine flu cases grew in California on Monday, facilities from hospitals to schools were on alert in Stanislaus County, health officials said.

Monday night, the number of confirmed cases in California stood at 13, including three seventh-graders at a private school in Fair Oaks, St. Mel's. The school is closed until at least Thursday. The students' symptoms are mild.

State health officials said two other individuals in San Diego County probably are sick from the swine flu, a novel virus, in a spreading health emergency expected to continue for weeks. Besides the Sacramento-area students, the other confirmed cases were five in San Diego County and five in Imperial County. There are no cases in Stanislaus County.

Dr. John Walker, public health officer, said Stanislaus County is in a state of enhanced surveillance, which he compared to the federal Department of Homeland Security's "orange" alert or second-highest state of readiness.

"We are taking it very seriously," he said. "... We want the public to be aware we are watching it closely."

The county health department has sent information to and held conference calls with hospitals, ambulance companies and other first responders to screen for people who could have the swine flu virus.

Request for schools, clinics

Walker asked schools, public health clinics and private physicians, as well as health clinics that serve migrant workers, to report suspected cases to the county health department.

The signs of swine flu are identical to those of common influenza: fever, cough, sore throat, severe body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, with possible vomiting and diarrhea.

While swine flu often results in mild illness, 149 people are believed to have died in outbreaks in Mexico (including some young adults who previously were healthy) and an estimated 1,400 cases have occurred there since April 13.

Swine flu is considered dangerous because the influenza strains are unusual and people may not have immunity to the virus, Walker said. Infection can lead to life- threatening pneumonia or respiratory failure or worsen underlying health conditions.

The flu vaccines distributed in the United States this year were not designed to protect against swine flu.

The 50 cases in the United States, as of Monday night, have been milder than those in Mexico. No deaths have occurred. The two people hospitalized in Southern California had chronic medical conditions before they were stricken, officials said.

Schools contact parents

Modesto City Schools sent phone messages to parents Monday afternoon and posted a swine flu alert on its Web site. Parents were advised there are no cases, all schools are open and no activities are canceled.

The district advised parents to call their doctor if a child has flu symptoms and report the symptoms to the school, said Jim Pfaff, the district's director of state and federal programs.

Parents should have their children take precautions such as hand washing and covering their mouth and nose when coughing.

Pfaff said school nurses won't try to diagnose the illness; county public health will follow up on any possible swine flu cases.

Doctors Medical Center of Modesto on Monday posted signs at its emergency department asking patients to inform staff if they have flu symptoms and recently traveled to Mexico. Hospital spokeswoman Carin Sarkis said those patients will be placed in an isolated area for testing to minimize the risk of exposing others.