Swine flu cases absent in Tacoma so far

As worldwide attention has been focused on the recent outbreaks of swine flu, Tacoma residents are still faring well.

Probable and suspected cases of the swine flu have been popping up in Pierce County, however no illnesses have been confirmed as swine flu as of press time.

Some students in Clover Park School District and Puyallup School District have exhibited flu-like symptoms but these cases have yet to be confirmed as the swine flu strand.

Three Clover Park schools closed on May 1 as a precautionary measure. Edgemont Junior High and Walker High School, in Edgewood and Puyallup, remained open because the ill students – who are siblings – were not attending school during the virus’ incubation period.

City officials and representatives for Tacoma Public Schools have so far carried out business as usual without any reports of possible cases of the flu.

The school district has been working to educate students, parents and staff of ways to prevent the flu and how to identify symptoms. Mass phone calls to parents in English and Spanish have twice relayed a flu checklist that helps parents determine whether or not a child should stay home sick. If two or more symptoms are exhibited, the child should stay at home to prevent spreading the flu.

“We take the safety and health of our students very seriously,” said Leanna Albrecht, public information officer for the district. “We follow the guidance and expertise of Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department… to provide the safest and healthiest environment possible.”

Currently, the health department is not recommending that Tacoma take any extra steps in cleaning or disinfecting surfaces that may carry the virus.

Schools impacted by the two ill siblings in Edgewood, Hilltop Elementary, Edgemont Junior High and Walker High School, are doing extra disinfecting on “high-touch” surfaces such as doorknobs and tabletops, along with other schools in the Puyallup School District.

At the city level, officials are using information they acquired through a simulated pandemic last fall to determine how to keep as many people as possible virus-free in case of an outbreak.

Tacoma City Manager Eric Anderson has met with employees in charge of emergency management with Tacoma Fire Department to discuss protection of paramedics and others who could be on the front lines of a pandemic. Having adequate supplies of anti-viral drugs for police officers, firefighters and public works employees is key.

City staff has also examined scenarios in which 30 percent of city staff becomes ill. Officials are discussing which jobs could be done from home through telecommuting, if need be to protect city staff during a pandemic.

While no cases have been confirmed in Tacoma or elsewhere in the county yet, tests on the few possible cases should be reported back from the Center for Disease Control at the end of the week.

This will allow public health officials to get a better understanding of the severity of the flu, its reach and its possible impact, said John Britt, public information officer for the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department.

So far, all symptoms have been distributed at about the same as the seasonal flu and include: fever of 100.4 and above, cough and sore throat. In addition, fatigue, lack of appetite, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported.

Contact your health care provider if you experience these symptoms.

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