No local cases of swine flu; Seattle health officials urge vigilance

As swine flu escalates as a global health emergency, Seattle health officials have begun activating parts of their pandemic preparedness plan. But with no local cases turning up so far, vigilance remains the main defense against the new virus strain.

Public-health officials from King County and Washington reminded residents to stay alert to symptoms of possible infections — and to avoid alarm.

So far "we're not seeing anything unusual," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, communicable-disease-control officer for Public Health — Seattle & King County.

Local and state health authorities stepped up surveillance of influenza and other respiratory illnesses. They're also considering buying more time on radio and television for public-service messages on guarding against infectious diseases.

Some school districts, including Seattle and Kent, plan to send letters to parents emphasizing preventive practices such as washing hands and staying home when sick.

Students who've been diagnosed with a contagious disease should stay home, reads the letter from Seattle schools, as should students with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher, vomiting or diarrhea, a blistery rash, heavy nasal congestion or frequent cough.

Still, even as the World Health Organization raised the six-level pandemic alert from a level three to a level four Monday, local emergency-response plans likely won't kick into high gear barring new developments.

King County has been allocated enough Tamiflu — one of two antiviral drugs that work against swine flu — for 260,000 people, though federal authorities are sending the drugs first to New York and other states where swine flu has been detected, said Matías Valenzuela, a spokesman for King County public health.

King County has purchased another 190,000 courses of Tamiflu, and in case of an actual pandemic, the county expects to have enough antiviral drugs for 25 percent of the residents.

The drugs will be distributed first to the sick and to people with symptoms.

Dr. Corey Casper, an infectious-disease expert with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, said one hopeful sign is that most of the confirmed cases appear linked to Mexico. A virus with multiple sources of origin, on the other hand, would be more difficult to contain, Casper said.

The A (H1N1) swine virus is a novel strain that's transmitted much the same way as the seasonal flu: through respiratory droppings from coughs and sneezes. Keeping at least three feet away from others helps minimize infections, Casper said, but because the virus also can spread through direct contact from doorknobs and other surfaces, handwashing is essential.

The state Department of Health had already asked local health-care providers to test people with flulike illnesses who also fit into one of three categories: They've recently traveled to Mexico or another highly affected area; they've come into close contact with someone with a flulike illness who was in Mexico in the week before illness, or they've had direct contact with someone with swine flu.

Health-department spokesman Tim Church said there's no point worrying about catching swine flu from co-workers who've recently returned from Mexico unless they're showing symptoms. In that case, "there's not a lot you can do ... other than keep an eye on your health and see if it develops into something more serious."

Seattle Times staff reporters Katherine Long and Lynn Thompson contributed to this report. Kyung Song: 206-464-2423 or ksong@seattletimes.com

The information in this article, originally published April 28, 2009, was corrected July 15, 2009. A story April 28 about swine flu preparations in King County incorrectly said that in a pandemic, health officials would give priority for dispensing the antiviral drug Tamiflu to health-care workers, recent pneumonia patients and key government leaders, among others. That is the distribution plan for flu vaccinations. Tamiflu would be given out first to the sick and to people with symptoms. The county expects to have enough antiviral drugs for about 30 percent of the residents.