Kosciusko County is one of 18 Indiana counties where health officials have confirmed a case of swine flu.
Statewide, 113 cases of the variant influenza A virus – commonly known as swine flu – have been confirmed in Kosciusko and the following counties: Bartholomew, Greene, Hamilton, Hendricks, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, LaPorte, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Porter, Scott, Tipton, Washington and White.
State health officials said Wednesday that more cases are expected to be confirmed this week.
Kosciusko County has one case that was confirmed Wednesday morning, said Teresa Reed, communicable disease nurse for Kosciusko County Health Department.
When a suspected case of the flu is detected, the department investigates and then waits for confirmation, Reed said.
The patient is not quarantined.
“We simply ask the affected person to remain home” until the flu subsides, Reed said.
“It’s important for folks to remember this is a mild illness with symptoms similar to what we see with seasonal flu,” state Health Commissioner Dr. Gregory Larkin said. “Because this is a relatively new strain of flu, only first seen in July of last year, a vaccine is not yet available. However, you can help to protect yourself by practicing thorough and frequent hand-washing and by being mindful not to eat around barn animals.”
Flu symptoms usually include fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as body aches, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. Symptoms may last from three to eight days.
Health officials have not found a case of person-to-person transmission but continue to investigate the possibility. Variant influenza A virus can be directly transmitted from swine to people and from people to swine. Human infections are most likely to occur when people are in proximity to live infected pigs, such as working with them in barns and livestock exhibits at fairs.
Influenza viruses are not transmitted by eating pork and pork products.
