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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2009

CONTACT
Marla Augustine, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047, cell (402) 416-9388 or marla.augustine@nebraska.gov

Note: Sound bites with Dr. Tom Safranek, state epidemiologist, will be available at: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/audio.aspx

Three New Probable Cases and Eight New Confirmed Cases of H1N1 Flu to Report Today

Lincoln—Three new probable and eight new confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza have been reported in Nebraska from Thursday’s test results, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

The surge in cases is due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory catching up on a backlog of cases.

The Public Health Laboratory has now been certified by the CDC to do confirmatory testing. This should speed up the testing of specimens.

The total confirmed cases among Nebraska residents is now 12. In addition, two residents of other states—California and Missouri—have been confirmed as cases in the state. The total number of probable cases pending confirmatory testing is four.

A summary of H1N1 confirmed and probable cases among Nebraska residents:

Advice

If you are moderately to severely ill with a cough, sore throat, fever and body aches (and perhaps vomiting and diarrhea), call your physician. First call the physician’s office and tell staff what symptoms you are experiencing. The physician may want to see you separately from other patients so that you don’t expose them in the waiting room. Your doctor can prescribe an antiviral for you, which will ease your symptoms and possibly shorten the duration of your illness.

For any flu-like illness:

• People who are sick should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the
  virus.
• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash hands frequently.

For more information, see the DHHS web site: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/flu.aspx

NOTE: Numbers of cases will be released by 9:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday via a news release. Media briefings will be held on an as-needed basis, pending a significant development.

*The definition of a probable case is a case that has tested positive for influenza A and is not seasonal flu.

**The definition of a confirmed case is one that the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory has determined is a case of H1N1 influenza.