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District of Columbia Closely Monitoring International Swine Flu Situation

Monday, April 27, 2009
There are no known cases of swine flu in the District or national capital region.

The District of Columbia Department of Health announced that District government officials are monitoring closely the new strain of swine flu that has been reported in the United States and Mexico.  As of Sunday evening time there are no known cases of swine flu in District of Columbia, Virginia or Maryland.

“While the District does not have any known cases of swine flu right now, we recognize that diseases do not respect state or national boundaries and are monitoring the situation closely,” said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “We continue to work with our neighboring jurisdictions and will respond as fast as humanly possible to address any potential or confirmed cases of swine flu.”

The Department of Health is responding proactively and aggressively to combat the spread of the disease.    In its press release, the Department outlined actions every resident can take to help stop the spread of swine flu, measles, and other contagious diseases. 

  • Frequent hand washing with soap and water is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease.
  • Avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose.
  • Influenza is spread from person to person by sneezes and coughs. Covering sneezes and coughs with your sleeve or a tissue stops the spread.
  • Avoid contact with those who are already ill.
  • Individuals who are ill should avoid crowded public places as much as possible and keep a 6 foot distance between people at work and other public places.
  • Anyone with a fever and respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza and other respiratory illnesses, to others in their communities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are currently 20 confirmed cases of this new flu strain in the United States. The CDC expects the number of cases in the United States to increase. Symptoms of influenza include runny nose or nasal congestion, cough, sore throat and a fever higher than 100 degrees.  The Department of Health has issued a fact sheet about swine flu.  Additional information about swine influenza is available at the CDC website.