Georgia Gets Grant Cash For Flu Prep

Ahead of the fall flu season, Georgia is set to receive almost $11-million dollars in federal funds to help prepare for the 2009 H1N1 virus, or so-called ‘swine flu’ virus. The grant is funded by the recently signed supplemental appropriations bill-Georgia’s 11-million is a portion of more than 300-million dollars to be distributed nationwide. Money is meant for things like emergency response, vaccination drives, and preparing for future outbreaks.

Georgia's First Swine Flu Death

Georgia health officials have reported the state's first swine flu death - a 43-year-old Cobb County woman. The Georgia Department of Community Health confirmed the death Friday and said the woman had underlying medical conditions, but did not immediately release additional information. The number of U.S. swine flu cases has surpassed 37,000 and deaths hit 211. Officials believe those cases - which sought treatment and underwent testing - are just the tip of the iceberg. They estimate more than 1 million Americans have been infected with the virus, though many probably had only mild illness.

(Associated Press)

CDC says Government Ready for Swine Flu

U.S. health officials say they won't need to change their response now that swine flu has been declared a pandemic. Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that the government has already been treating the outbreak like a pandemic. Flu medicine has been sent out to states and money has been poured into a possible vaccination program. Since the first cases of swine flu were reported in April, scientists have found the virus is not much worse than the seasonal flu. The CDC's new chief, Dr. Thomas Frieden, says that should help keep people from overreacting to the pandemic declaration. More than 13,000 Americans have gotten swine flu. So far, there have been at least 27 deaths.

(Associated Press)

More Cases of Swine Flu in Georgia

Georgia health officials have confirmed four more cases of swine flu, bringing the state's total to eight, with six associated with a private school in Henry County. Doctor Elizabeth Ford, head of the state Division of Public Health, said Wednesday the new cases are associated with a group of students from Eagle's Landing Christian Academy in McDonough. None have been hospitalized. All were initially identified as students who traveled together on a field trip out of state. Officials could not confirm the destination of the trip. Georgia officials say they are now able to confirm cases without the help of the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. Ford said testing for swine flu will continue for hospitalized patients, but the department will use seasonal monitoring methods for all others.

Fourth Swine Flu Case

State health officials say a new swine flu case has been confirmed in Georgia, bringing the number of patients in the state to four. Dr. Elizabeth Ford, head of the state Division of Public Health, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Friday that a 13-year-old boy from Henry County tested positive for the H1N1 virus. They said his symptoms were mild and he did not require hospitalization. The swine flu case of a 30-year-old Kentucky woman who was hospitalized in LaGrange after attending a wedding has been attributed to her home state. She has been transferred to an Atlanta hospital, which has better access to infectious disease experts.

For the latest on H1N1 swine flu in Georgia, go to www.gpb.org and click on "Flu Facts."

(Associated Press)

More Georgia Swine Flu Cases Confirmed

A second teenage boy attending a private school in Henry County has tested positive for the H1/N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu. Earlier this week, officials confirmed a 14-year-old boy at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy had the virus. The Henry County school had planned to close for 2 weeks, but following the change on recommendations for closings by federal officials, the Christian Academy is set to re-open this morning. Meanwhile, state health officials say 2 members of the military in the Augusta-area likely have swine flu. If suspected cases are confirmed, it would bring to 7 the number of confirmed cases of H1/N1 in Georgia.

==You can get all the latest information on the swine flu virus by going to our website: gpb.org, and clicking on the "Flu Facts" icon from our homepage. ==

2nd Georgia Swine Flu Case Confirmed

State health officials say Georgia now has a 2nd case of swine flu, or the H-1/N-1 virus. It has been confirmed in a 14-year-old boy in Henry County - his illness prompted the closing of a private school there for 14 days. Meanwhile, the director of the State Division of Public Health says there are 3 more suspected cases, and they're likely to be confirmed for the virus. Those cases involve a 3-year-old boy in Cobb County, an 8-year-old Clayton County girl, and a 36-year-old pregnant woman in DeKalb County. Officials stress that the three and the 14-year-old in Henry County, all have mild symptoms of 'H-1/N-1', and are at home. The first case in the state was a Kentucky woman who traveled to La Grange, and landed in the hospital there.

Governor Sonny Perdue on Monday gave an update on the virus in Georgia:

"...We are still taking all precautions for those who have flu-like symptoms. At this current time there seems to be no pandemic, epidemic of flu symptoms over the state... The fact is, aside from the visitor that we had in La Grange, none of these patients are hospitalized, they are being treated at home..."

Perdue says rapid result testing kits for the virus will soon be available in Georgia.

Possible Swine Flu Case Closes Private School

Eagles Landing Christian Academy in Henry County has temporarily suspended all classes until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms the status of a student who has become ill. The school acted Monday in conjunction with the Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health following current recommendations on possible swine flu cases. The specimen was sent to the CDC for further testing during the weekend.

Associated Press

No New Swine Flu Cases in Georgia

As of 11 a.m., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are no new cases of swine flu in Georgia. Yesterday, the CDC confirmed one victim of the swine flu outbreak in the state. That case originated from a Kentucky woman who was in town for a wedding. She has been hospitalized in LaGrange, Ga. The CDC says it considers her case to be from Kentucky and not Georgia.

Governor says Don't Panic Over Flu Case

Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding the first H1N1 flu case in Georgia.

“Today’s confirmed case of the H1N1 flu in Georgia is a reason for precaution, not panic. I want to stress that it is an isolated case appearing in a woman visiting our state for an event who had also recently traveled to Mexico. The State of Georgia has worked diligently over the past several years to prepare for a situation like this, and we are partnering with local and federal officials to respond appropriately. I encourage Georgians to follow the advice of public health professionals and take the recommended precautions to protect themselves and their families. At this stage, the simplest things – washing hands and using disinfectants – can be the most effective safeguards. I am confident in our planning and preparation and our ability to respond over the coming days.”

The most up-to-date information on H1N1 flu developments in Georgia is available at the Division of Public Health's website at http://health.state.ga.us/swineflu/.

Swine Flu Confirmed in Georgia

Health officials have confirmed the first case of swine flu in Georgia. The head of Georgia's Division of Public Health said Thursday a 30-year-old woman from Kentucky who had traveled to LaGrange in west Georgia had fallen ill. She had been in Cancun, Mexico earlier this month. The World Health Organization has raised its alert level to Phase 5, the second-highest, indicating a pandemic may be imminent. Swine flu has symptoms nearly identical to regular flu - fever, cough and sore throat - and spreads like regular flu, through tiny particles in the air, when people cough or sneeze. People with flu symptoms are advised to stay at home, wash their hands and cover their sneezes.

(Associated Press)

Swine Flu: No Cases Yet In Georgia

Health officials across the globe are growing increasingly concerned about the outbreak of swine flu. More than 1,500 infections have been reported in Mexico, with a little over 100 deaths. In the U.S., as of Monday morning, there were 20 confirmed cases across a handful of states--but no deaths. Despite that, federal health officials have issued a public health emergency declaration as a precaution, and the head of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta says people should be prepared for the problem to become more severe.

There have been no cases of swine flu yet reported in Georgia. Lisa Harvey is with the Infection Control division of Washington County Regional Medical Center in Sandersville. She says her clinic has been well supplied with information for doctors and patients alike:

"The CDC...the Georgia Department of Public Health, has all sent out numerous guidelines...they've been a great resource. And basically, I am personally not seeing panic. I think that people are more in an information mode...they want to know what is going on."

Scattered states across the country have closed schools, including neighboring South Carolina. A private school there was closed Monday over fears that students who just returned from Mexico might be infected.

Health officials say symptoms of swine flu are nearly indistinguishable from other forms of respiratory illness, including sore throat, cough and fever.