Swine Flu Anxiety Hits the Small Town of Elkton, Maryland

For residents of Elkton, Maryland the probable cases of swine flu in Baltimore and Arundel counties are not what have them alarmed. Rather the four CDC confirmed, six additional state confirmed, and probable 16 cases in New Castle County Delaware have Elkton residents worried. With a majority of the cases stemming from Elkton's neighbor, Newark, Delaware the residents of this small Cecil County town of approximately 11,000 residents are scared of the swine flu finding its way to their town in the near future.

Elkton and Newark are less than 10 miles away from one another with easy accessibility from Elkton-Newark road, Old Baltimore Pike, and US Route 40. Many Elkton residents travel to Newark daily to their jobs and to partake of tax-free shopping. However, with the numbers of confirmed and probable swine flu cases steadily climbing Elkton residents are becoming leery of crossing the state line into Newark, Delaware as frequently as they used to.

Elkton resident, Doris Bias 51, is worried that if more cases should arise in Newark that the swine flu will definitely hit Elkton. On a fixed income surviving off of her once a month disability income she is concerned over having to go back and forth to the grocery stores, pharmacies, and to her various doctor's appointments that take her into Newark every month.

"I have pulmonary and cardiac issue already, and going into public places is something I have to be cautious about anyway. But now with this new flu out here in my backyard [Newark], I am down right afraid to go across the line into Newark now! Heck, even the common cold leads to pneumonia with me, so what should I think my chances are with this swine flu running rampant?", Mrs. Bias laments while shaking her head. "But I trust in the Lord and I know I am not going to leave here until he calls me home, but I am still human with human fears. I just have stay "prayed up" as my Pastor says."

The CDC and Elkton's Union Hospital's Department of Infection Control and Epidemiology strongly urge for people to remain calm and take preventative measures such as frequent washing of hands, sneezing and coughing into tissues, and immediate discarding of the tissues. However, for such groups as Elkton's large homeless community, such preventative measures may not be used. This is a huge concern for residents like Doris Bias who sympathizes with the plight of the homeless but also knows through her volunteer work with the homeless that, "They do not have access to soap and water at will."

Elkton residents for the moment are watching and waiting. Watching the news and searching the internet for new updates on the flu situation. Waiting for the report that the flu has hit their small town and wondering what the next steps may be.