Swine Flu May Have Hit New Haven

by Abram Katz | April 30, 2009 6:08 PM | | Comments (20)

(Updated 7:11 p.m.) Connecticut is investigating four possible cases of swine flu at Yale.

Meanwhile, students in East Haddam and at Fairfield University have been tested for a type A influenza different than the strain that coursed through Connecticut this past winter, according to Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s office. (Click here for the latest on possible cases around the state.)

Viral samples from four Yale “affiliates” with type A flu have also been sent to the state Department of Public Health “to determine whether these are cases of swine flu,” the university confirmed Thursday in an email to the Yale community. The students live off campus and are being treated with antiviral medications.

“No cases of swine flu (H1N1 Influenza A) have been confirmed at Yale. However, the Yale University Health Services (YUHS) is treating four patients for Influenza A,” University Secretary Linda Lorimer wrote in the email.

“These patients all live off campus, and they are only mildly ill and receiving treatment at home. As a precautionary measure, these patients are receiving anti-viral medications. If it turns out that any members of the Yale community have confirmed cases of swine flu, we will let you know right away.”

A Yale spokesperson said Thursday evening that the four “affiliates” are students and are being sequestered. The spokesperson didn’t say whether the students had recently traveled to Mexico.

None of the cases appears serious. However, the “normal” seasonal flu has run its course, increasing the odds that current cases are swine flu.

Test results will indicate whether any of the Yale cases are probably swine flu.

b517734k-250_tcm18-52931.jpgSamples have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine whether the flu viruses are indeed the emerging “swine” H1N1 type.

Dr. Louise Dembry, hospital epidemiologist at Yale-New Haven Hospital, said out of five suspected cases in the state, two from East Haddam have tested negative for swine flu.

Tests were continuing to be performed on samples from three possible swine flu cases at Fairfield University Wednesday afternoon. Two have been labeled “probable” and a third is awaiting confirmation by the CDC.

Connecticut still has no confirmed cases of swine flu.

By next week the laboratory at the state Department of Public Health will obtain the CDC assays necessary to identify the swine flu. Currently, sample results from the CDC take about 48 hours.

Dembry said there is no evidence that the swine flu is spreading “person-to-person,” which would produce many more cases.

Dr. Zane Saul, chief of infectious diseases at Bridgeport Hospital, said he would not be surprised if swine flu is confirmed in Connecticut.

“Don’t be alarmed,” Saul said. “This is not like Mexico,” where the virus has killed about 160 people.

The question of why the U.S. version of the new H1N1 is apparently milder than the one in Mexico remains unanswered, he said. The U.S. may be diagnosing cases at an earlier stage, or the viruses may have genetic differences, he said.

Dembry said people should continue to follow standard precautions:

• Cover your mouth when you cough, sneeze into a tissue.
• Avoid close contact with people who have flu-like symptoms.
• If you have flu-like symptoms, including high fever, sore throat, cough, aches and pains, do not go to work. Stay home.
• Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your nose, eyes or face.
• If you recently visited Mexico and feel ill, contact your doctor.

This swine flu has the potential for a pandemic because it carries a swine version of the surface protein H1. It also carries genetic materials from birds and humans.

Consequently, no humans have yet developed residual immunity against the virus, Dembry said.

It is impossible to predict the extent to which the virus will spread, or how long it will remain in circulation, she said.

Meanwhile, the state is distributing 9,512 treatment courses of the antiviral medications Tamiflu or Relenza to Connecticut’s 31 acute-care hospitals. The 10-day treatments are being taken from the state’s stockpile of 11,000 courses.

Rell has asked 130,000 additional treatment courses from the federal government.
Hospitals are treating patients with flu-like symptoms as if the patients have swine flu, keeping them in isolation until they recover.







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Comments

Posted by: Larry | April 30, 2009 6:55 PM

The Yale message didn't specify that the patients were students.

Posted by: robn | April 30, 2009 7:47 PM

Its good that everyone is being cautious and hygenic and all, but the normal flu strains cause about 36,000 annual deaths in the US alone.

CDC

So far the WHO has only recorded 8 worldwide deaths from H1N1....all from Mexico.

WHO

Calm down...stay clean.

Posted by: cedarhillresident [TypeKey Profile Page] | April 30, 2009 8:48 PM

OK I am just a wee bit freaked! I have my hand sanitizer and I am thinking of bathing in it. Just kidding. but seriously, where do these 4 live?? Apartment buildings downtown?? really is yale going to contact people that may of come in contact with these people if it is swine?

Posted by: juli | April 30, 2009 8:57 PM

in case you are feeling uncertain:

http://doihavepigflu.com/

Posted by: walt bradley | May 1, 2009 1:04 AM

We had it first on Citizens Television.
If you keep watching channel 26, it will be on seveal times throughout the weekend.
look at www.cityofnewhaven.com or cdc.gov or ct.gov/phd for local, and state updates.
i think we should be more worried about getting mugged than "swine" flu.

Posted by: ned | May 1, 2009 8:28 AM

Every year, in the United States, tens of thousands of people are killed in car crashes - I guess that's not a public health emergency?

from the 2007 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes, NHTSA.

In 2007 ...
41,059 people were killed in motor vehicle
crashes

2,491,000 people were injured.


Those numbers are nothing to sneeze at...

Posted by: robn | May 1, 2009 9:06 AM

NED,

It's clear that you'd like to innoculate us with your personal pet issue however, I'd like to point out that flu virus is spread through normal daily contact between people. Vehicular deaths are mostly caused by distinctly stupid choices that people make including (from your report)...
54% of passengers killed were unrestrained
45% involved alcohol impairment

Posted by: William Kurtz | May 1, 2009 9:06 AM

With all the hysteria being stoked, CHR, it's no surprise that you're a "wee bit freaked" but really, it's important to keep risks in perspective as several others have just pointed out. The ordinary flu kills far more people largely unnoticed and let's not even get started on car crashes or the risks associated with smoking, drinking, and obesity--all of which are far more serious problems.

Posted by: Edward_H | May 1, 2009 11:40 AM

ROBN

I for one am eagerly awaiting one of ANON'S six plus paragraph posts on the subject of the swine flu vs auto deaths. At leasts Ned's post was short and sweet.

Posted by: Ned | May 1, 2009 12:42 PM

Robn,
What happens when an unrestrained person, with the flu, becomes airborn?

Posted by: robn | May 1, 2009 1:13 PM

BTW NED,

Completely innapropriate photo linked from your screenname. For Pete's sake, children visit this site.

Posted by: Edward_H | May 1, 2009 6:03 PM

ROBN

BTW NED,

Completely innapropriate photo linked from your screenname. For Pete's sake, children visit this site.

Some might say if the picture Ned linked to saves just one child's life by scaring them into buckling up it was worth posting.

Posted by: ned | May 2, 2009 7:50 AM

"Not in front of the children..."

from today's Register 3 teens hospitalized after crash

Swine flu = 0
car crash=3

Posted by: robn | May 3, 2009 12:24 PM

NED and EH,

I'll tell you what...don't trust my word...make a print of that photo and when a mother an children pass, show the photo to the child...then ask mom if its appropriate...could you do that and look the mother in the eye? If the answer is no, why do it online? My point is there isn't any warning...if you're going to link to graphicly bloody material, do it through a warning page.

Posted by: Edward_H | May 3, 2009 12:30 PM

Swine flu has been confirmed in CT

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/05/02/news/doc49fca5d76322e748842119.txt

EVERYBODY PANIC!!!!

Posted by: Walt | May 3, 2009 2:51 PM

There are about 3.5 million people in CT.

The odds that any one of us will catch the Swine flu from the few sick folks are so tiny that we are more likely to win the lottery.

Only a Joe Biden, or a TV guy looking for a story would get so excited.

Posted by: Edward_H | May 3, 2009 5:10 PM

ROBN

I'll tell you what...don't trust my word...make a print of that photo and when a mother an children pass, show the photo to the child.

Stop right there! What you are describing would get me charged with Breach of Peace. I am not falling for your liberal trickery.

All jokes aside, while I do understand your point I just don't think many Interent savvy children would be traumatized by the photo in question. But then again maybe a little trauma would be a good thing. Any criminal potential I had was traumatized right out me by the Scared Straight documentary.

Posted by: ROBN | May 4, 2009 12:56 PM

EH,

"liberal trickery"???
I though that protecting children was conservative.

Posted by: Walt | May 5, 2009 6:59 AM

What photo?

Posted by: cedarhillresident [TypeKey Profile Page] | May 5, 2009 3:05 PM

You guys so totally rock! Walt scroll above and click on Ned 's name

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