Story Created:
Apr 27, 2009 at 12:22 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Apr 30, 2009 at 2:15 PM EDT
(WKTV) World governments are racing to find and contain pockets of Swine Flu, and face both the threat of a pandemic and public panic.
The virus is suspected in up to 103 deaths in Mexico, and in New York, some 20 people are infected.
Locally, representatives at hospitals say they're ready if they need to respond.
An Infection Prevention Coordinator at one hospital says she is concerned, but not alarmed, with regards to the swine flu outbreak.
Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, hospitals and officials have ramped up preparedness - be it a bio terrorism attack or, in this case, a flu pandemic.
At St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, emails were sent out to hospital staff first thing Monday morning updating employees on the basics and what to do if someone shows flu symptoms - provide a mask, keep them from the general population, and find out travel history.
Infectious Disease Coordinator Linda Kokoszki says hospitals regularly practice disaster preparedness drills in preparation for a bio-terrorism event or even flu pandemic.
The current string of illnesses isn't a pandemic at this point, though officials say they are monitoring it closely in case it turns into one.
The Oneida County Health Department is working with the hospital and State Health Department recommending ways to deal with this.
"At the hospital, we are making sure that all of our entrances have personal protective equipment, along with multi-lingual signage to let people know that if they are presented to our facility with any of those signs and symptoms, to wear a mask to minimize any transmission to staff and other people, other patients," Kokoszki said.
While the incubation period for influenza is generally two days, the Center for Disease Control is saying seven days to be on the safe side.
So, for those of you who left for Spring Break vacations in recent weeks, there's likely nothing to worry about - there are no confirmed cases in Oneida County.
For more information from the State Health Department, Click Here
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