Sunday, May 03, 2009

Probable swine flu case reported in Daviess County, Ky.

Probable swine flu case reported in Daviess County, Ky.

A Tri-State resident has come down with what officials believe to be swine flu, the Kentucky Department for Public Health said today.

The case marks the fourth probable instance of H1N1, known commonly as swine flu, in Kentucky. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct further testing on the specimen.

"In Kentucky and nationally, we are still in the early stages of identifying cases of H1N1 swine flu, and determining how widespread it might become," Department of Public Health Commissioner William Hacker said in a news release. "While we have not identified many probable or confirmed cases, we continue to encourage individuals to stay informed as this situation evolves and to continue practicing basic health habits to prevent illness."

The new case involves a young Daviess County man who has since received antiviral treatment and has recovered, health officials said. The Green River District Health Department will check close contacts for the illness and offer preventive treatment.

Kentucky officials are coordinating investigation of the case with Massachusetts health officials because the man attends college there, said Gwenda Bond, a spokeswoman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Bond said the man, whose name and age are not being released, came down with symptoms in the middle of last week shortly after he came home from Massachusetts.

"But it is possible to spread the virus before the symptoms appear," Bond said.

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