Press Release

May 6, 2009

Galveston County and Cities – The Galveston County Health District announced today the county’s first probable case of H1N1 (swine) flu in a 15 year old resident of League City. Since being tested, she has fully recovered and did not require hospitalization.  During the course of her illness she did not attend school or any social gatherings.

New guidelines issued by the CDC on Tuesday do not call for any school closures, saying campuses can remain open even with a confirmed case of H1N1. Health District officials will still work closely with any school that may need assistance with questions or concerns.

“Because the H1N1 flu is behaving like seasonal flu in severity, public health officials have shifted prevention strategies from school closures to keeping ill students and staff home until well,” says Dr. Mark Guidry, GCHD CEO and Galveston County Health Authority. “Now that Galveston County has a probable case, it is even more important for the public to understand and follow the commonsense steps that can help prevent the spread of this new flu virus.”

Guidry emphasizes the basic prevention message remains unchanged and residents should use standard precautions to reduce the spread of any respiratory illness:

• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
• Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
• Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
• People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.  

 (News Media: For more information contact Kurt Koopmann, GCHD Public Information Officer, (409) 938-2211)