Author Topic: Swine Flu  (Read 4369 times)

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Swine Flu
« on: April 30, 2009, 12:22:25 PM »
Information about Swine Flu (from City's website)
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Related news story:

State says its prepared for swine flu as businesses brace for pandemic
By Shankar P.
 
New Jersey “is operating from a plan, and not still figuring out what to do” as it responds to the swine flu pandemic, said David Gruber, senior assistant commissioner of the state Department of Health and Senior Services. The state has stocked up on antiviral medicines, masks, gloves and the like, but preparedness among private businesses in the state is patchy.

The state has its own stockpile of 800,000 courses of antiviral agents, and has accepted another 300,000 courses from the federal government, Gruber said. That stockpile includes medicines, antiviral agents, gloves, masks, hand sanitizers and other personal protective equipment.

The health department said in a press release last evening that it has identified five “probable cases” of swine flu, and is arranging for tests at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each have “mild forms of the flu and are recovering at home,” it said; it expects results to be available in 48 hours.

About half the 18 “critical infrastructure sectors” identified by the federal government “have done full scale planning” and stocked up on supplies of masks, gloves and hand sanitizers, said Matt Conlon, vice president of market development for Cantel Medical Corp., a Little Falls-based maker of infection prevention and control products.

“The larger companies in the other half have put together paper plans, and many are now scrambling to implement them,” said Conlon, who said his phone has been ringing off the hook the past few days. Among the larger companies in New Jersey that Cantel has supplied so far are two pharmaceutical companies, one utility company and one financial services company, he added.

Wells Fargo/Wachovia is sharing information with its 6,300 employees across the state on things they could do to minimize risks and take preventive measures, said Fran Durst, its spokeswoman. The bank also is in touch with public health and emergency response officials “to assess the ongoing activities and any potential impact to us,” she added.



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Re: Swine Flu
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2009, 10:17:54 AM »
Corzine: Bergen County female has swine flu
By John Soltes
Editor-in-Chief

(April 30, 2009, 3:30 p.m.) — Five New Jersey residents, including one Bergen County 22-year-old female, have tested positive for H1N1 influenza, more commonly known as swine flu. All five individuals were tested earlier this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced the findings today, April 30.

"We have been on top of this from the start and will continue to be vigilant as long as the threat to public safety exists," Corzine stated. "There is no need for alarm, but we must all be aware of the situation."

None of the affected individuals were hospitalized and all are recovering at home. In addition to the Bergen County resident, there were three Burlington County females and one Monmouth County female.

Four of the five individuals visited Mexico recently, and the remaining person visited California.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type-A influenza. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

The Department of Health and Senior Services has opened up a 24-hour information line for the general public and healthcare providers. That number is 1-866-321-9251.

 

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