Possible Swine Flu Cluster Closes Down a School in South Carolina

Is the southeast now a region of concern as the swine flu continues to make headlines across the globe? Perhaps. Newberry Academy decided to close Monday after a group of seniors displayed flu like symptoms after they returned from a trip to Mexico. State Department of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Jim Beasley said test results on the students could come back as early as Monday afternoon. The agency has stepped up efforts to investigate all flu cases in South Carolina. There have been no confirmed swine flu cases in the state.

Health officials in North Carolina are on full alert and continue to keep a close eye on the swine flu outbreak, but a spokesman said Sunday that they have seen no signs of the illness in the state. "We're OK here so far," said Bill Furney, communication coordinator with the Division of Public Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Furney said Sunday that his agency has been in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as with local health care providers. He said the effort was to make sure the information his department had was up to date, and that his office is also talking to local health officials to make sure they have the information they need.

The U.S. declared a public health emergency Sunday to deal with the emerging new strain of swine flu. The good news is that so far the cases in the US seem to be less severe, with most of the sick already recovering. Six cases have been confirmed in Canada, and 20 in the US. The virus seems to grow weaker through human-to-human contact. Plus, we have 50 million TamiFlu vaccines in stockpile. Yesterday at ground zero in Mexico, soldiers handed out 6 million face masks to help stop the spread of the novel virus that is suspected in up to 103 deaths.

Americans are urged to use typical prevention strategies as with any flu. On Good Morning America today, Diane Sawyer interviewed Dr. Richard Besser, the acting director of the CDC, and he said, "We're very concerned and taking very aggressive measures. He then went on to explain that there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood that you will get sick, like lots of hand washing, staying at home if you are sick, covering your mouth before sneezing, and avoiding crowded places.

Parents should follow news reports and check the CDC's website at least once a day. If you do get sick, chances are that you have the common flu. Sudden and profound onset of a fever, dizziness and nausea are symptoms of the swine flu. If you or your child experiences any of the above, seek medical attention immediately.

Amid surging worries about a global pandemic, the United States launched border screening for swine flu exposure Monday and a top federal health official said people should brace for more severe cases, "and possibly deaths." At our country's borders, there is "passive screening" going on at checkpoints, with visitors being asked about fever and illness. Is this enough, or will the American public demand that more be done? Only time will tell.

Sources: Fox 8 TV and Associated Press