Wake County confirms three more swine flu cases
State health officials added 24 cases of the H1N1 virus Thursday, with three new cases in Wake County.
Posted — UpdatedLee, Person and Wilson counties also reported their first confirmed cases of the illness, which is also called swine flu.
The World Health Organization said the spread of swine flu has created the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
The announcement by WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan came Thursday as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere to near 30,000 cases.
Chan said she decided to raise the pandemic alert level from phase 5 to 6, meaning that a global outbreak of swine flu has begun, after an emergency meeting on swine flu with top experts.
Health officials say people in high-risk groups, such as children under age five, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions, need to be extra careful and see a doctor if they feel sick.
Ways you can help prevent the transmission of the H1N1 virus are:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick
- Stay at home if you are sick
Influenza-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea or vomiting associated with this virus.
Like seasonal flu, the H1N1 virus can vary in severity from mild to severe. This strain of influenza appears to be milder than the seasonal influenza.
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