Lincoln County ready if swine flu hits home

Though Montana had no confirmed cases of swine flu as of Monday morning, the Lincoln County Health Department has kept busy distributing information and readying for a possible outbreak. 

The number of confirmed cases of swine flu, the “h1n1 strain” of influenza, in the United States rose from 109 on Thursday to 286 on Monday, which includes an Idaho case. 

Amy Smart, Lincoln County Health Department infectious disease nurse, has talked to local radio stations, mothers’ groups, churches and others about the flu epidemic and ways to prevent spreading it.

“This swine flu has the same symptoms and is spread by the same route as seasonal flu,” Smart said. “Use good respiratory etiquette and remind the people around you to cover their coughs and sneezes.”

Smart keeps up on the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control through e-mails and teleconference calls and relays the information to health-care providers and the general public.

If someone has flu symptoms, he or she should stay home and call a health-care provider for instructions, Smart said. The provider may decide to collect and send a specimen to the state lab to determine if it is a case of swine flu. 

Smart has kept Libby and Troy schools up-to-date on the issue, and Troy schools have taken steps to educate teachers and students about ways to prevent spreading the disease.

“Both schools have talked to their people about better hygiene,” said Brady Selle, superintendent of Troy schools, “insisting that the kids wash their hands.”

Pursuant to state law, the county has an “Isolation and Quarantine Plan” that guides the county’s actions to prevent the spread of disease during an epidemic. It gives the county health officer, Dr. Brad Black, authority to quarantine individuals or close schools if certain guidelines are met.

“We have our basic, overall plan based on the county health department,” said Kirby Maki, superintendent of Libby schools. “If there were an endemic, we would close. At this point, we’re depending on the county health department to keep us updated.”

Smart pointed out that swine flu is susceptible to two antiviral medications that the United States has stockpiled, but that at this point, they should only be used to treat sick people and not to prevent swine flu.

Smart emphasizes the similarities between swine flu and seasonal flu.

“Swine flu has been shown to be no worse than seasonal influenza,” said Smart. “Approximately 36,000 Americans die each year from seasonal influenza. Deaths are expected from this new strain of flu just as they are from seasonal flu.” 

How to protect yourself and others:

Wash your hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and avoid touching your eyes and face.

Swine flu symptoms:

Same as seasonal flu – fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting.

If you have flu symptoms:

Stay at home and call your health-care provider for instructions.