Comments on: Swine Flu: Health Officials Say Be Prepared For Possible Closure Of Escambia Schools http://www.northescambia.com/2009/05/swine-flu-health-officials-say-be-prepared-for-possible-closure-of-escambia-schools Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Sat, 18 Apr 2026 03:51:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Concerned parent http://www.northescambia.com/2009/05/swine-flu-health-officials-say-be-prepared-for-possible-closure-of-escambia-schools/comment-page-1#comment-10352 Concerned parent Tue, 05 May 2009 19:52:42 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=7945#comment-10352 For Immediate Release: May 5, 2009 Contact: DOH Communications Office 850-245-4111 www.doh.state.fl.us 1-800-342-3557 TDD: 1-800-226-4329 Hotline open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 5, 2009 9:40 a.m. Florida has five confirmed cases in the following counties: two in Lee, one in Broward, one in Orange , and one in Pinellas. Alachua, Lee, Indian River, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Seminole, and Clay have one probable case each. Miami Dade and Broward each has three. Hillsborough County has six probable cases. A public health emergency was declared by the State Surgeon General. A toll free information line has been established to address an increasing number of calls from the public requesting Swine Flu information. The number is 1-800-342-3557 and it is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Samples are being received by Florida Department of Health Laboratories for analysis from physicians and hospitals across the state. The Department of Health continues enhanced surveillance and outreach to physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals. The surveillance system, consisting of sentinel physicians reporting influenza activity, DOH laboratories receiving specimens from physicians and hospitals and our ability to monitor emergency room cases and over- the-counter drug sales is fully operational. We have activated our response plan and are ready to respond to any cases of swine flu if it should occur. Department of Health continues its enhanced surveillance with a network of Sentinel Physician Providers. These providers send selected samples of laboratory specimens to state laboratories for testing if they have patients with influenza like illness (ILI). These physicians also continue to report weekly ILI cases to the Department of Health. Anti-virals have been pre-positioned to areas of potential need. We have over one half million individual courses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2 79 confirmed cases of novel influenza in the United States, with one death in a twenty-three month old. The World Health Organization (WHO) alert level remains at Phase 5. The declaration of a Phase 5 is a strong signal that the pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short. Participation in Centers for Disease Control and other national conference calls will continue. The State Surgeon General provided these recommendations: People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.  Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.  Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness. People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician. If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home. For Immediate Release:
May 5, 2009 Contact: DOH Communications Office 850-245-4111

http://www.doh.state.fl.us
1-800-342-3557
TDD: 1-800-226-4329
Hotline open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

May 5, 2009 9:40 a.m.
Florida has five confirmed cases in the following counties: two in Lee, one in Broward, one in Orange , and one in Pinellas.
Alachua, Lee, Indian River, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Seminole, and Clay have one probable case each. Miami Dade and Broward each has three. Hillsborough County has six probable cases.
A public health emergency was declared by the State Surgeon General.
A toll free information line has been established to address an increasing number of calls from the public requesting Swine Flu information. The number is
1-800-342-3557 and it is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Samples are being received by Florida Department of Health Laboratories for analysis from physicians and hospitals across the state.
The Department of Health continues enhanced surveillance and outreach to physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals. The surveillance system, consisting of sentinel physicians reporting influenza activity, DOH laboratories receiving specimens from physicians and hospitals and our ability to monitor emergency room cases and over- the-counter drug sales is fully operational. We have activated our response plan and are ready to respond to any cases of swine flu if it should occur.
Department of Health continues its enhanced surveillance with a network of Sentinel Physician Providers. These providers send selected samples of laboratory specimens to state laboratories for testing if they have patients with influenza like illness (ILI). These physicians also continue to report weekly ILI cases to the Department of Health.
Anti-virals have been pre-positioned to areas of potential need. We have over one half million individual courses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2 79 confirmed cases of novel influenza in the United States, with one death in a twenty-three month old.
The World Health Organization (WHO) alert level remains at Phase 5. The declaration of a Phase 5 is a strong signal that the pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
Participation in Centers for Disease Control and other national conference calls will continue.

The State Surgeon General provided these recommendations:

People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid
spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.

 Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

 Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.

People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and
vomiting, should contact their physician.

If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss
whether you need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home.

]]> By: Jennafer Chase http://www.northescambia.com/2009/05/swine-flu-health-officials-say-be-prepared-for-possible-closure-of-escambia-schools/comment-page-1#comment-10248 Jennafer Chase Mon, 04 May 2009 18:06:35 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=7945#comment-10248 I know it is an important tradition for seniors to walk in graduation. However, to die at that point in their lives would be horrible. I was hospitalized when I was 23 because the flu caused complications that threatened my life. I remember how bitter I felt at the thaught of dieing at that point in my life. Seniors and college students have so many dreams and ambitions that walking and graduating on time is only the beginning. I know it is an important tradition for seniors to walk in graduation. However, to die at that point in their lives would be horrible. I was hospitalized when I was 23 because the flu caused complications that threatened my life. I remember how bitter I felt at the thaught of dieing at that point in my life. Seniors and college students have so many dreams and ambitions that walking and graduating on time is only the beginning.

]]> By: Concerned parent http://www.northescambia.com/2009/05/swine-flu-health-officials-say-be-prepared-for-possible-closure-of-escambia-schools/comment-page-1#comment-10241 Concerned parent Mon, 04 May 2009 17:21:10 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=7945#comment-10241 Kiri, I'm sure that they would have something lined up for seniors to do in order to stay on schedule unless it became a really horrible outbreak, which luckily appears to be very unlikely. Really, what's left to do? Finals only? Even if they couldn't get you back in school to take those, they would probably just base a final grade on what you have averaged throughout the year and still have graduation. So far, most graduations seem to be remaining on schedule, just without the traditional handshakes. Good luck and congrats on graduating this year. It doesn't seem like you should be that old yet, lol. Kiri,
I’m sure that they would have something lined up for seniors to do in order to stay on schedule unless it became a really horrible outbreak, which luckily appears to be very unlikely. Really, what’s left to do? Finals only? Even if they couldn’t get you back in school to take those, they would probably just base a final grade on what you have averaged throughout the year and still have graduation. So far, most graduations seem to be remaining on schedule, just without the traditional handshakes.
Good luck and congrats on graduating this year. It doesn’t seem like you should be that old yet, lol.

]]> By: Kiri Montgomery http://www.northescambia.com/2009/05/swine-flu-health-officials-say-be-prepared-for-possible-closure-of-escambia-schools/comment-page-1#comment-10237 Kiri Montgomery Mon, 04 May 2009 16:06:25 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=7945#comment-10237 Our school can not close. I am quite sure our seniors would like to finsh this school year as scheduled this year. Our school can not close. I am quite sure our seniors would like to finsh this school year as scheduled this year.

]]> By: Dixie8245 http://www.northescambia.com/2009/05/swine-flu-health-officials-say-be-prepared-for-possible-closure-of-escambia-schools/comment-page-1#comment-10161 Dixie8245 Sat, 02 May 2009 20:22:36 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=7945#comment-10161 Sounds like now is the time to open back up and keep our Health Department open on the Northend. Just a thought. Sounds like now is the time to open back up and keep our Health Department open on the Northend. Just a thought.

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