With reports of swine flu coming in from across the country and the world, Ford County has remained unaffected so far.
However, on Tuesday, area health care professionals gathered with members of the Ford County Health Department and local livestock businesses to discuss how to handle a possible outbreak in southwest Kansas.
County clerk and spokeswoman Sharon Seibel told the Daily Globe that as of Tuesday evening, the health department had no confirmed cases of swine flu within the county.
"We met as a planning group and have followed up on all the steps and information that needs to be sent out," Seibel said. "We're making sure that people understand that we know about the problem and are preparing."
Precautions
Seibel said one of the group's goals was to make sure enough information got out to the public to quash rumors before they got out of hand.
Specifically, she said it was important to note that the swine flu is a respiratory influenza and is not passed from food products. That means, she said, that people cannot avoid the flu by simply not eating pork products.
Seibel also said that health department director Angela Elder has reported that since news of the illness began to come out, her office has been flooded with calls from concerned residents.
However, she said that area and state officials were stressing that people should take simple steps to preventing the spread of any disease.
"They (the group) wanted to remind people take the normal precautions," Seibel said. "Wash your hands. If you or your children are sick, stay home. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze."
The specific strain of swine flu currently circulating is known as H1N1.
This strain is causing particular concern as it is has never been seen in humans before, so it is unlikely that anyone has a natural immunity to it, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Web site.
Far from a pandemic
To date, there have been only two confirmed cases of the flu in Kansas. Both were in Dickinson County, and only one required hospitalization.
"You don't need to panic and stay home if you're feeling well," Seibel said. "It's not to that proportion yet. Just remain informed, follow the advice you receive."
County officials are urging anyone with the symptoms of swine flu to contact their health care provider. If the provider is unavailable, Seibel said the health department can be contacted.
However, she did caution that due to the large number of calls the department has been receiving, callers should be patient if they receive a busy signal.
In a statement released Tuesday evening by Western Plains Medical Complex, infection control practitioner Joli Baird confirmed that their hospital had not treated any confirmed cases of swine flu.
“While we are not aware of any cases of swine flu in our community, we are closely monitoring the situation and will be prepared to respond in the event that that we experience an outbreak,” she said in a statement. “Our hospital has an emergency preparedness plan in place that we would activate in the event of an influenza pandemic.”
According to the statement, the hospital will provide testing if a patient’s symptoms indicate they may have the flu.
“As government officials have noted, the current swine flu outbreak is a public health concern, but at this time it’s not an emergency,” she said.
For more information on the swine flu, symptoms and ways to prevent it, visit KDHE's Web site at www.kdheks.gov or the Center for Disease Control's Web site at www.cdc.gov.
Reach Mark Vierthaler at (620) 408-9908 or e-mail him at mark.vierthaler@dodgeglobe.com.
DODGE CITY —
