As you may have seen or read in the news, the swine flu caught attention here in the States when more than 100 Catholic high school students in New York got sick after returning from Spring Break. From the 100 students showing symptoms, only one case was severe enough to require hospitalization; other cases were reported to be mild. However, on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, headlines alerted people of the now hundreds in New York who have fallen ill, and of the first casualty in Texas.
In Mexico, the death toll continues to rise and the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the pandemic threat level one notch. As of the 28th, swine flu fatalities in Mexico totaled 149, and at least 1,995 people have been hospitalized. Mexican officials have closed schools nationwide, and business in Mexico City has been halted by measures intended to contain the outbreak.
As if the health risks weren't enough, analysts claim that these first signs could be affecting the rocky economy. Oil prices, airline stocks, and the Mexican peso this week have all plunged.
Read more from The Washington Post.
So what are the swine flu symptoms that are not only causing health concerns but also adding to the economy's struggle? Much like winter's all-too-familiar flu symptoms, signs of the swine flu include fever, chills, headache, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue. Some have also reported vomiting and diarrhea. And unlike the more common swine flu that is typically only passed between pigs and those people who have direct contact with the animals, this variation is passing between humans. Additional information from WebMD Swine Flu FAQ.
Anyone with signs of the flu who has been to a high-risk area is urged to see his/her doctor. U.S. health officials have asked that additional doses of antibiotics be sent to areas of the nation that are prone to tourism such as Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Additional information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For information about preparing your school for a potential outbreak, click here.
