Swine flu reported in Barrow County

A 15-year-old girl is Barrow County's first reported case of the newly declared pandemic virus – novel influenza A (H1N1), popularly known as "swine flu."

“The District Health Office has confirmed a case of H1N1 flu in Barrow County,” states a July 3 e-mail announcement from Barrow County EMA Director Jimmy Terrell.

“The victim is a 15-year old female who has practically recovered. The sample was drawn June 23rd and confirmed yesterday.”

Terrell said there is no cause for widespread concern at this time, though caution is warranted.

“We do need to remain alert and to monitor our personal health, that of our family, our workforce and our friends,” the e-mail states.

Terrell has scheduled a meeting of the Barrow County Pandemic Flu Committee for 9 a.m. July 16th in the training room of the county administrative annex at 233 East Broad St.

“Unlike a seasonal flu, the H1N1 seems to be hanging around, and Public Health's big concern is the fall,” Terrell wrote. “We could see the same virus we are combating now or a mutation.”


Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood received the news Thursday in a text message on his cell phone while meeting with the county's elected officials to discuss finances.

Immediately after the meeting, Yearwood spoke by phone with Terrell, who had good news about the teen's condition.

"She's better and up and running around and doing well," Yearwood said to a reporter after that phone call.

According to the web site of the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, the state of Georgia as of July 2 had 118 "confirmed and probable" cases of the new flu.

The United States and its territories have had 33,902 cases with 170 deaths. Five of those who died were in Florida and two were in North Carolina. There have been no reported deaths in Georgia.

The virus emerged in the spring of this year in Mexico and the United States, and on June 11, the World Health Organization declared a worldwide pandemic.

In the United States, most people sickened by the virus have required no medical treatment, but the CDC believes there will be more hospitalizations and deaths in the coming days and weeks.

The virus also could cause more serious illness during the U.S. influenza season in the fall and winter, the web site states.

ADVICE FROM WWW.CDC.GOV:
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.