NYS Department of Health
Statement from Richard F. Daines, M.D., Commissioner

Governor Paterson’s decision to activate New York State’s health emergency preparedness plan has enabled us to quickly respond to the H1N1 swine flu outbreak. The Governor has pledged all necessary resources for New York State’s response to this outbreak to mitigate its impact on New Yorkers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received last night the specimens from the three suspect cases of H1N1 in Suffolk, Orange, and Cortland counties.

The State Health Department (the Department) does not yet have confirmatory results from those specimens. We also are waiting for validation of the accuracy of the testing performed by the Department’s Wadsworth Laboratories. Once our testing is validated, New York no longer will need to send specimens to CDC for confirmatory testing, and confirmatory testing for H1N1 will be performed in Wadsworth Laboratories.

Yesterday 23 suspect H1N1 specimens were tested at our Wadsworth Laboratories. Of those, five specimens tested probable for cases of H1N1, with one case each in Suffolk, Nassau, Orange, Monroe, and Chautauqua counties.

These five cases bring the total number of probable cases in New York State outside of New York City to eight.

Of the five new probable cases, the ones in Suffolk and Nassau counties have links to St. Francis Prep School in Queens. The other three cases from Orange, Monroe, and Chautauqua counties have links to Mexico.

Also among these 23 specimens tested yesterday, three were positive for seasonal influenza, two were inconclusive and will be repeated, and 13 were negative for any type of influenza.

Today, New York City reported an additional 16 probable cases. The number of confirmed cases in New York City remains at 49.

These results indicate that seasonal influenza is still circulating in the state. But more than half the suspect specimens submitted for testing were negative for any type of influenza.

Local health departments continue to investigate many suspect cases of H1N1. In fact, outside of New York City, there currently are 89 suspect cases of H1N1 in New York State. As this outbreak continues to evolve, increases in the numbers and location of cases of H1N1 are to be expected.

Not all suspect cases will be sent to the Wadsworth Laboratories for testing. As the outbreak evolves and reports of suspect cases continue, the criteria for testing will change. For example, if H1N1 is identified in a particular county, then no longer will specimens be tested on mildly ill patients in that county.

There are three definitions of cases:

Confirmed cases

Laboratory testing has determined that these are cases due to H1N1.

Probable cases

Lab testing has determined that these are cases likely due to H1N1, but they need confirmatory testing.

Suspect cases

These cases have not been tested but are suspicious for H1N1. Many suspect cases are never tested because it is not necessary for managing mild illness.

The Fabius-Pompey School District in Onondaga County has been closed for the remainder of this week as a result of a student from Cortland County testing positive for H1N1. The district expects to reopen on Monday.

To address the evolving situation with schools, the Department is working with the State Education Department to finalize criteria in the next day or two for school districts to use to evaluate the need for closures.

Yesterday, a health care worker at a nursing home in Orange County was confirmed to have H1N1. That facility is providing anti-viral prophylaxis treatment to all patients and staff and conducting surveillance for additional illness. One ill patient is currently being tested.

The Department continues to work closely and coordinate with CDC and city and county health departments to address the possible spread of H1N1 in New York State. Because of effective planning, the Department has been able to move swiftly to respond to this situation.

All influenza can be serious — and deaths can be expected. Each year on average there are 36,000 seasonal influenza-related deaths in the U.S. – including approximately 2,000 deaths in New York State.

Symptoms of swine flu may include fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting have been reported as symptoms, as well.

Anyone experiencing severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, should seek immediate medical attention. For anyone experiencing mild or moderate symptoms, it is best to consult with a health care provider and recover at home.

The best protection against any influenza is to follow common-sense precautions such as frequent hand-washing, staying home from work or school if you are ill, and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

For questions about swine flu, call the Department’s hotline at 1-800-808-1987. New York City residents should call 311. Resources are available at www.nyhealth.gov/swineflu.

Health officials said today Monroe County has one probable case of swine flu.

The case involves a young woman who had been to Mexico. She’s had limited contact with people since her return and health officials have told her to stay at home until further notice. The health department has also contacted her household members, who will not be tested unless they show symptoms.

The probable case was tested at the state level and is now being sent to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing. Local health officials expect results as early as tomorrow.

The county still has seven suspected cases of swine flu. Two of the cases sent to the state for testing earlier this week had negative results, but three new suspected cases were added today.

A suspected case of swine flu was also reported in Genesee County today, as was one in Wyoming County, according to health officials there. But two of four suspected cases in Ontario County tested negative, official said today. These latest reports bring the number of suspected cases in the area to 13, including two in Wayne County.

Democrat & Chronicle

Monroe County may know Friday if it has its first “confirmed” case of H1N1, or the swine flu. Right now there is one probable case and seven other suspected cases.

A young woman who traveled to Cancun, Mexico is the county’s first probable case of the flu. She is at the second step in testing for H1N1 strain. The next step is confirmation.

The Centers for Disease Control is now testing her nose swab to confirm or deny that she indeed has H1N1. The woman is recovering at home from mild symptoms of the flu. She and the 7 other people with suspected cases of swine flu were never hospitalized.

All of them traveled to Mexico or Texas or New York City, places already affected by the flu.

R News

Two Chautauqua County schools will remain closed through the weekend due to a confirmed case of swine flu in a child, while samples from two Niagara County adults are being analyzed at a state laboratory.

Wyoming County health officials said they expect to know by Friday night whether a sample submitted this morning is found to be a strain of swine flu spreading throughout the country.

As of 3 p.m. today, the Erie County Health Department had sent two samples of possible swine flu to the state for further testing. Department spokesman Kevin Montgomery said neither sample appeared probable as of this afternoon.

Genesee County health officials said late this afternoon they have a suspected case and another possible case. [snip]

The Bemus Point Central School District announced that its two schools — Bemus Point Elementary and Maple Grove High — would be closed through the weekend after “a local student has been reported with “probably’ diagnosis of this H1N1 flu virus,” Superintendent Albert M. D’Attilio said in a letter sent home to parents and posted on the district’s website.

The schools were closed to all activities at the end of the school day today and are expected to reopen on Monday.

Buffalo News

The Fabius Pompey School District – 10 miles from Syracuse is closing for the next two days as a precautionary measure after preliminary testing showed a female student with the swine flu.

It’s latest in several suspected cases in New York State.

State officials say they are awaiting final confirmation on their preliminary tests form the federal centers for disease control.

However, local health officials say the student did not need hospitalization and is recovering.

Locally, four possible cases being tested in Lewis County, and three in Oneida County. No reported cases in Herkimer or Otsego Counties.

WKTV Utica

Here are the media reports on possible and probable swine flu cases in upstate New York, outside of New York City.

Probable cases: 1 each in Orange, Suffolk and Cortland counties

75 potential cases are being investigated outside of New York City, Rochester area has 13 suspected cases, including seven in Monroe County, four in Ontario County and two in Wayne County.

Democrat & Chronicle

WHO from yesterday:

The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of 19:15 GMT, 28 April 2009, seven countries have officially reported cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. The United States Government has reported 64 laboratory confirmed human cases, with no deaths. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection including seven deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Canada (6), New Zealand (3), the United Kingdom (2), Israel (2) and Spain (2).

The CDC case number site is unchanged at this time.

AP is claiming CDC confirmation of a swine flu related death in Texas, a toddler. The Texas Health Department site does not have this information.

AHN is reporting additional swine flu cases in Canada. The Canadian Public Health Agency has nothing at this time.

Along America’s North Shore there are a number of suspected cases. Concerning Rochester and Western New York State, 13 WHAM states:

Of the eight suspected cases of swine flu in the Rochester area:
–Five cases in Monroe County. The patients are all in their early 20s and have traveled to Mexico. None of them are students.
–One suspected case in Wayne County. That person has not been hospitalized, but recently traveled to Mexico and returned home feeling ill.
–Two suspected cases in Ontario County in two people who traveled to New York City.