Information on H1N1 Slow From Local Officials

From the Sept. 16, 2009 Newscaster by Sally Price
 
   A concerned parent called the Newscaster and said they heard there were several cases of Swine Flu (H1N1) at Yankeetown School (YTS). Checking with Patty Thompson, YTS Health Aid, I was told there are rumors but no confirmed cases of Swine Flu confirmed at YTS and she would know because that is her job. Patty said as a precaution she does have masks available for anyone who feels the need for one.  Patty said I would need to contact the Levy County School Board (LCSB).
   I spoke to the LCSB Director of Adminstration Jeff Edison who said there is Swine Flu in all communities in Levy County but had no verification of the Swine Flu in any particular schools. Jeff said that the health dept. did a presentation of facts with the LCSB of universal precautions so the schools could monitor symptoms. 
   I was told to call the Levy County Health Department (LCHD).  Barbara Locke,  Administrator of LCHD replied, “In answer to your question, the school has sent home 10 students with Influenza like illness. We have not had any positive tests for Swine Flu reported to us for students in Yankeetown. This does not mean there haven’t been any,  just that none have been reported to us.” 
   I said most parents would take their children to Seven Rivers  Hospital or a Citrus County doctor, which would report to the Citrus County Health Department (CCHD). 
    Judy Tear, Public Relations with the CCHD said that the health department had been instructed by the Center For Disease Control (CDC) not to test for Swine Flu (H1N1) but to just treat patients if they had symptoms that appeared consistent with Swine Flu.  CCHD website said that as of July 24, 2009 the CDC stopped reporting the number of confirmed and probable cases.  Physicians were to do diagnosis based on signs and symptoms. Judy said as of right now the only people tested are those that are actually hospitalized. 
    I again called Barbara Locke back at the LCHD in Bronson. I asked if it was true about not testing for Swine Flu unless you are hospitalized. Barbara said yes it is true but some doctors might test on their own if they wanted. She said Bronson would not test any either according to the CDC except that the LCHD is a Surveillance Test Sight and their clinic does test the first 5 people who come in with influenza like symptoms.  After the first 5 each day they do not test any more that day.
   Locke also said there are many different strains of the regular flu folks get yearly shots for. Each year it is determined which strain might be the most prevalent and circulating so the vaccine is prepared for that strain. The previous year’s vaccine can’t be used again. I counted over 200 strains on the internet.
   My granddaughter  at age 4 months was given a new vaccine called Prevnar (PCV7) which is for Pneumococcal viruses which Prevnar only covered 7 of 5500 strains. We were told if she had the vaccine she would not have ear infections. After the vaccine, she started having ear infections and would every time have a full blown turn blue quit breathing seizure. You know my opinion of vaccines and flu shots.  
My question is.”HOW DO WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF CASES OF SWINE FLU AND HOW SEVERE IT IS IF THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAYS NO TEST UNLESS THE PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED?  WHERE DO THE NUMBERS COME FROM IF NO TESTING IS DONE OF THE GENERAL SICK PUBLIC? HOW WOULD WE KNOW WHEN WE REACH A PANDEMIC..(BASED ON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?). SOUNDS LIKE A LINE TO ME I DON’T BUY.