Schwarzenegger on swine flu: 'We are prepared' [Updated]
[Updated at 12:50 p.m.: The Sacramento County public health officer, Dr. Glenna Trochet, said that swine flu had been confirmed in a seventh-grader at St. Mel's school in Fair Oaks. Three other children at the school had similar symptoms and were being tested, she added. All four had mild cases and recovered or are recovering.]
State officials are trying to confirm what may be the eighth case of swine flu in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today at an impromptu news conference in Beverly Hills.
“I can assure you that at this time there is no reason for alarm, but we want to go and do everything that we can to make sure that we prevent an outbreak here,” Schwarzenegger said, speaking at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and accompanied by state emergency and health officials.
The latest possible infection involves a seventh-grader in Sacramento. It follows four confirmed cases in San Diego County and three in Imperial County.
Schwarzenegger said the state is monitoring the situation “minute by minute.” Officials said none of the infected Californians had any contact with Mexico. As of yet, the state is not discouraging people from traveling there or to other areas of the world where outbreaks have occurred, Schwarzenegger said.
California Department of Public Health director Dr. Mark Horton advised people to take basic hygiene precautions, wash their hands and avoid large crowds. Officials asked for the public’s help in containing the infection, asking them to stay away from work or travel if they are feeling ill.
“The bottom line is, we are prepared,” Schwarzenegger said.
-- Corina Knoll
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4 possible cases already? you better be prepared Arnold. This thing is comming, check out this story. http://tinyurl.com/dkuhbg
Posted by: B Colb | April 27, 2009 at 01:28 PM