Swine flu continues to spread around the world and in Lancaster County, which now has 30 confirmed cases, mostly in children and teens.
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Now at a pandemic level globally, the virus is spreading faster than seasonal influenza in some areas of Pennsylvania. The number of confirmed cases grows almost daily in Lancaster County.
Cases of swine flu, also called HINI, were confirmed in two local schools and concerns over it caused two other schools to close early this spring.
Its continued persistence and its predilection for young people raises the question: What will happen when schools reopen at the end of the summer?
"We expect ... to see a swing up in cases again," said Peg Holland, infection control coordinator at Ephrata Community Hospital.
The state is encouraging school districts to prepare for that possibility.
"You always want to prepare for the worst and hope for the best," said Stacy Kriedeman, state health department spokeswoman. "We don't know what to expect. We're very concerned. We continue to issue guidance and work with local health officials as well as school districts."
Conestoga Valley School District is heeding the state's advice.
When school begins again, the district will place hand sanitizer outside large group areas, such as the cafeteria, library and computer areas, spokeswoman Anne Garber said.
Custodial staff will take extra precautions in cleaning doorknobs, keyboards and other areas where germs can be transmitted from hand to hand, she added. And the district's emergency team is discussing other ways to deal with the virus, should it become a problem.
The Southcentral Task Force, a regional emergency preparedness group that includes hospitals and emergency responders, also is discussing how to deal with the virus should it continue to escalate, Holland said.
Districts, parents and others should not panic about swine flu, said Dr. Joseph Kontra, an infectious disease specialist at Lancaster General Hospital.
"The death toll has been very low. Fortunately these are relatively mild cases," he said. "It's not having the devastating effect of filling up hospitals and causing a huge mortality."
Kontra counseled districts not to overreact and to remain in close contact with health authorities about quarantining children or closing schools.
Whether or not the virus will continue to increase or burn itself out is unknown, he said. An effort is under way to develop a vaccine but, should the virus dissipate or mutate, that could be a wasted effort, he said.
To stay healthy, Kontra and Holland said people should practice good hygiene, washing their hands regularly, getting adequate rest and exercise, and eating a healthy diet.
Parents should keep an eye on their children and look for flu-like symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches and headache. Ill children should be kept away from others.
"I don't think people should worry about it," Holland said. "What they need to do is maintain their own personal health. You can be exposed and your immune system might work just fine."
The flu has spread steadily in the state, which had its first confirmed case in April, and the county, which had its first case in May.
As of today, the county has one probable case in addition to its 30 confirmed cases.
Of the 27 cases here in which the age of the victim is known, 66 percent were in those age 19 and younger.
The flu popped up in several local schools toward the end of their year.
Donegal Middle School and Riverview Elementary School, both in the Donegal district, closed a day early. No confirmed cases were found in the schools but state health officials recommended the closure after elevated absences from flu-like symptoms at the middle school, which is connected to the elementary school.
Confirmed cases of the flu did show up in the Manheim Township School District and Lancaster Catholic High School.
Pennsylvania had 1,425 confirmed cases and 60 possible cases as of today, according to the health department.
Of those, 75 percent were in those age 19 and younger.
Four Pennsylvania residents have died from the flu: two in Philadelphia County (including one who just died) and one each in Berks and Pike counties. A number of the victims have had underlying health problems.
The flu has spread to 41 of the 67 counties in the state. Five counties have 100 or more cases, with Philadelphia County, at 324 cases, having the most.
The World Health Organization declared a swine flu pandemic June 11, while saying that most people were in no imminent danger.
More than 70 countries are now reporting cases of human infection. The Southern Hemisphere is just beginning its influenza season and the experience there may provide valuable clues about what may occur in the Northern Hemisphere this fall and winter, federal health officials say.
Staff writer Cindy Stauffer can be reached at cstauffer@LNPnews.com or 481-6024.
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