I was curious what the NYC Department of Health website had to say about the swine flu outbreak. The BBC reported this morning that 100 people have died in Mexico. In NYC 8 students, who attend St. Francis Prepatory School in Queens, have been positively diagnosed with the swine flu. The students apparently contracted the flu on recent trips to Mexico. The student's symptoms were much milder than those experienced by those in Mexico; the students are already recovering.
That said, the press release from the Department of Health does list some precautions, including the advice that all New Yorkers should cover their mouths when they cough. Here are some others:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to avoid infecting them.
Here is the information from the NYC Department of Health Website.
Testing Confirms Swine Influenza at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens
Tests
conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have
confirmed cases of human swine flu among students at St. Francis
Preparatory School in Queens. The school is suspending classes on
Monday. The affected students have experienced only mild symptoms and
many are already improving, but a similar virus has recently caused
deaths in Mexico.
Read the Press Release – update 4/26 11:30 AM
Read the Press Release – 4/25 2:00 PM
Facts about swine flu
Read Ready New York: Pandemic Flu (PDF)
Healthcare Provider Alert on Swine Flu 4/26
General information about swine flu from CDC
Tests
conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have
confirmed cases of human swine flu among students at St. Francis
Preparatory School in Queens. The school is suspending classes on
Monday. The affected students have experienced only mild symptoms and
many are already improving, but a similar virus has recently caused
deaths in Mexico.
Read the Press Release – update 4/26 11:30 AMRead the Press Release – 4/25 2:00 PMFacts about swine fluRead Ready New York: Pandemic Flu (PDF)Healthcare Provider Alert on Swine Flu 4/26General information about swine flu from CDC
I hesistate to share what may be too much information, I got sick on Saturday with flu-like symptoms: fever of 101.5, upper respiratory infection, body aches, bad dry cough, extreme fatigue. I assumed it was either a bad cold (though I’ve never run a fever with a cold) or parainfluenza (since I got this year’s flu shot). I thought about going to an urgent care center, but I just didn’t feel up to it and didn’t think there was much they could do.
During the night last night, my fever broke with a lot of sweating, and I feel fatigued and still have a bad cough but I am better. I guess this is a coincidence, but I’m a hypochondriac who did get the 1976 swine flu shot at the old Homecrest Board of Health office on E. 16th St. & Avenue S.