Local officials focus on swine flu preparations

Swine flu was the topic of discussion at an emergency management meeting in Swampscott and many other communities this week.Swampscott Acting Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Breen, who is also the emergency management director for the town, said an emergency management meeting on Wednesday was attended by school, town and public safety officials.”We reviewed emergency management procedures,” he said. “We discussed preparations for a possible outbreak of swine flu. Obviously we’re fortunate there are no active cases in the area. We reviewed advisories from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Public Health (DPH).”Breen said the emergency management team in Swampscott developed a set of guidelines, which would be published online at www.town.swampscott.ma.us, and parents would receive automated phone calls from the school district.”The key thing is we’re urging people not to panic. It’s an evolving situation that is being monitored very closely. What is required of everyone right now is heightened vigilance to prevent spread of the disease. We’re encouraging people to be on the lookout for symptoms and to encourage aggressive hand washing. We’ll be stockpiling anti-bacterial liquids in town buildings.”Outgoing Marblehead Board of Health Chairman Carl Goodman interrupted Monday’s League of Woman Voters Candidates Night to make a public announcement about swine flu.”On behalf of the Board of Health I want to alert the public,” he said. “There is reason for concern but no reason to panic. There are no confirmed cases in this area or in the state but the disease seems to be spreading.”The first confirmed cases of swine influenza in Massachusetts were confirmed by the Patrick Administration Wednesday. According to the state DPH, the patients, two school-age residents of Middlesex County, are considered to have a mild case of the disease and are expected to make a complete recovery. Massachusetts is the sixth state to have confirmed cases of swine flu; there are now a total of 66 confirmed cases in the United States.”Fortunately, the patients are not hospitalized and are expected to fully recover,” said Gov. Deval Patrick. “We will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with our health officials and others to limit exposure.”DPH officials continue to take steps to increase surveillance of influenza-like illness in Massachusetts, asking health care providers and hospital emergency departments to be on the lookout for flu-like symptoms ? especially in people who have recently traveled to Mexico or any other area which has confirmed cases. If a provider suspects a patient may be infected with swine flu, DPH requests that they perform and submit a swab test for laboratory testing.Goodman listed the symptoms, which include the sudden onset of a fever, coughing, a sore throat and possibly vomiting and diarrhea. “If you have any of these symptoms stay home,” he said. “The disease is spread through contact.”For general information on swine flu and the status of the nationwide outbreak, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu. For more information on the Massachusetts response, and how to care for someone at home who has the flu, go to www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu(Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.)