Swine Flu Spreads to Tennessee

With 146 cases of Swine Flu reported in the United States, 564 cases of H1N1 reported worldwide, and 400 different school systems closed across the country, Swine Flu is already having an impact across the country. In Tennessee, the director of the Metro Health Department said there is good reason to expect cases of the Swine Flu in Nashville and he urged the public to take precautions to prevent contracting the virus. Suggested preventative measures include washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding contact with skin, especially avoiding touching your eyes, mouth and inside the ears before washing your hands.

In Nashville, schools are already starting to close as students show possible symptoms of H1N1. Most recently, St. Vincent de Paul school in Nashville announced on May 1 their plans to close from May 4 - 8 after several people exhibited flu-like symptoms at the school. St. Vincent de Paul follows Montgomery Bell Academy and Harding Academy in Nashville school closures due to suspected Swine Flu outbreaks.

Harding Academy, which is in my neighborhood, was the first school in Tennessee where a student showed symptoms of Swine Flu. The Tennessee Department of Health lab identified the first probable case of the H1N1 virus in a Harding Academy student who lives in Williamson County. While this case is still listed as unconfirmed in most sources, the Nashville City Paper listed it as "confirmed" on May 1. Gov. Phil Bredesen reported that the Harding Academy student is receiving treatment at home and is recovering from the illness with a good prognosis.

A student at the Church of the Incarnation School in Collierville, a suburb of Memphis, has also been diagnosed with a probable case of H1N1. Another case of Swine Flu tied to Tennessee is that of a women from Calgary, Alberta, with a confirmed case of swine flu, who had recently traveled to Tennessee, as was announced on Friday by the province's chief medical officer of health.

The Adventure Science Center hosted a Flu Forum on May 1 where Nashvillians could talk to officials and experts about the disease and Nashville's preparations. It is reported that Tennessee has plenty of anti-viral medications on hand including 839,000 doses of Tamiflu and Tamivir, which combined with the federal stockpile, covers about 27% of Tennessee's 6,000,000 residents. Department of Health spokeswoman Andrea Turner says the state has spent $8 million to stockpile these anti-viral courses.

It is a good thing Tennessee has taken the precaution of stockpiling some of these drugs as one prescription tracking service says demand for Tamiflu and Relenza is already up 900%.

While Tennessee and other states make preparations for the pandemic, experts now claim H1N1 does not look as threatening as originally thought. Swine Flu reportedly does not have the genetic makeup of the deadly virus of 1918. However, the new influenza strain should still be taken seriously as it is a flu pandemic, and pandemics historically have a high mortality rate.

If you have questions or concerns about Swine Flu in Tennessee, there are some local resources which may be able to assist you:

Metro Department of Health
http://health.nashville.gov/H1N1SwineFlu.htm

Tennessee Department of Health
http://health.state.tn.us/swineflu.htm

Sources
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/swine-flu-review-st-vincent-closes
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/05/01/edm-swine-flu-friday.html
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/050109_Tennessee_Stockpiling_Flu_Anti_Virals
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=6791414