Local Health & Medical Providers Meet to Discuss Swine Flu Situation

Apr 27, 2009

As of 1:00 p.m. April 27, 2009, there have been no reported cases of swine flu in Missouri. Local health officials, first responders, community representatives and the Emergency Management Director met today to discuss the evolving swine flu situation. Butler County has increased its disease surveillance, and remains in constant contact with state health department officials. The Butler County Health Department is providing information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), related to swine flu, to local media outlets, community leaders and the public. Additionally, the health department has notified healthcare providers, child care facilities, restaurants, etc. in Butler County regarding guidelines for the identification and treatment of swine flu.

At this time, the health department advises citizens to be aware of the symptoms of swine flu and contact their primary care physician if they become ill with these symptoms. Also, it is important to adhere to the following personal protective measures:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with hot, soapy water. If water is unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and allow dry completely.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
• Stay home if you hare sick.
• Avoid contact with infected persons, or persons experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms of the swine flu are similar to that of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported vomiting and diarrhea associated with swine flu. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

For more information on swine flu, please visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu/. For questions about your own personal medical symptoms and conditions, please contact your physician.

This information was provided by:
Butler County Health Department
1619 N. Main St.
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
(573) 785-8478

  1. Heather Nagy

    I think it is interesting how the common sense policy of “stay home when you are sick” has escaped the Poplar Bluff school system. The current policy at PBHS (and I think PBJHS also) is that all kids who miss even one school day (excused or not) have to take cumulative finals. For this reason, kids who feel horrible and are highly contagious continue to come to school in order to avoid the tests. Other such programs that encourage not taking sick days are the perfect attendance awards in lower grades and the monetary awards given to summer school students who miss no more than 1 day. While I understand that administration wants to maximize attendance, this policy may in fact hinder overall attendance in the long run by allowing sick students to infect others and create more absences. In light of the swine flu threat (and potential others), I think this policy should be reevaluated.