Bay City Tribune

While the number of H1N1 flu cases continues to rise in the United States, Matagorda County Health officials await the results of eight lab tests to confirm the virus locally.

Doug Matthes, Matagorda County Emergency Management coordinator, said no additional patients have been reported exhibiting suspicious symptoms.

Because no cases of the H1N1 flu have been confirmed in the county, Matthes said there is no reason to recommend that people don't attend this weekend's events such as Cinco de Mayo in Palacios, Markham Day or Blessing Day.

"Obviously, if you attend these events, you should use common sense," said Matthes.

"But it would be silly not to go on with life activities as you normally would when there aren't even any confirmed cases of the flu in our county."

Matthes said it's a better idea to just wave and smile at people when greeting them instead of hand shaking or hugging.

Also, it's important to carry hand sanitizer with you, use it often, and wash your hands with soap and water every chance you get, said Matthes.

Matagorda County Hospital District officials have done their best to educate the public on the H1N1 flu, its symptoms and what to do if you think you have been exposed to the flu.

According to information from the hospital district, H1N1 spreads when coughing or sneezing of an infected person leaves residue on a common surfaces that a well person touches and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth.

There are measures you can take to keep from getting the flu, or lessen your chances of getting the flu, such as:

first and most important - wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap and water often;

try to stay in good general health;

get plenty of sleep;

be physically active;

manage your stress;

drink plenty of fluids;

eat nutritious food;

try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated;

avoid close contact with people who are sick.

According to Matthes, those who are symptomatic of the flu should see their family doctor, not a hospital emergency room.

"The best thing to do is make an appointment with your doctor," said Matthes.

"The media has done a good job of educating people that the last place you would want to go is to an emergency room if you have flu-like symptoms."

"First of all, it sometimes takes a while to be seen and you don't want to be sitting in the waiting room infecting other people if you do have it, or taking the chance of catching something from someone else if you don't have it," he added.

According to information from a Thursday press briefing with Dr. Richard Besser, Acting Director for Center for Disease Control, the H1N1 flu has potential to worsen in the United States.

"As we see more people who are infected by this virus, we will continue to see a broad spectrum of disease from mild ear infections to more severe infections," Besser explained.

"Unfortunately, I do expect there to be more deaths."

At press time, six of the 149 confirmed cases in the United States have been hospitalized and so far only one death, in the case of the child from Mexico that died in a Houston hospital.

Besser said it was important to put the H1N1 flu in context of the seasonal flu.

"Influenza is a virus we see every season - every winter," he said.

"It can cause severe disease."

"In The United States, there are 36,000 deaths from seasonal flu," he said attempting to explain the potential severity of any flu.

The good news coming from the CDC is that they don't expect shortages of anti-viral drugs such as Tamiflu or Relenza.

"There are no reports, and we don't expect any reports, of shortages, of any anti-virals in any states," said Besser.

Before concluding the press briefing, Besser predicted continued spread and intensified severity of the H1N1 flu cases.

"What I expect to see here is ongoing transmission in states," he said.

"What I expect to see here is a broader spectrum of severity."