Michigan Prepares for Possible Swine Flu Case

After traveling to San Antonio, Texas, near the Mexican border, a 34-year-old Livingston County, Michigan, woman may have contracted the swine flu virus. The woman’s lab results have been sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine if they test positive for the virus. She is recovering at home and none of her family members are exhibiting symptoms.

The news of the woman’s potential contraction of the virus has caused fear in Michigan residents. Two medical supply stores in Lansing, Michigan, have sold out of surgical masks. The Ingham County Health Department is taking necessary precautions by monitoring absences from schools and ordering swine flu testing kits from the State Department of Community Health. In a speech yesterday, President Obama stated that "[w]e are closely monitoring the emerging cases of swine flu in the United States, and this is obviously a cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert. But it’s not a cause for alarm."

Instead of panicking, people can help by monitoring their own symptoms. Symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache chills and fatigue. In some cases, people suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. The Centers for Disease Control recommends covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze and washing your hands frequently. If you exhibit any of these symptoms call your doctor immediately and stay home from work or school.