Swine flu cases increase

As the United States braces itself for a H1N1 swine flu pandemic with infection rates growing higher and spreading across more and more states, including 25 infections and one death in Texas, the Permian Basin thus far seems to have escaped the outbreak.

But when the first samples come back from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention next week, that story might change.  

Despite myriad rumors floating around town, Gino Solla, director of the Ector County Health Department, wanted to make it crystal clear that there are no confirmed cases of the North American flu in the Permian Basin.

"You can definitely stress that with lots of exclamation points," he said during a telephone conversation. Thursday morning.

According to Odessa's Medical Center Hospital, the facility sent more than 20 samples from people exhibiting suspicious symptoms to a laboratory in Lubbock for testing, and Solla estimated on Thursday evening that a total of about 25 cases probably have been shipped off from Ector County thus far for testing.

Once there, Solla said, at least a week could pass before officials confirm a case in the region.

"They are so inundated and they are so busy running samples that they told us, ‘It all depends on when your sample comes in and how we can process it and put it in order. And then if we have to send it on out to the CDC for further testing, that takes time too.'" Solla said. "So, to be honest with you, just shooting out there an approximation, I would say a minimum of a week or more."

If they're going to come at all, confirmations, in all likelihood, probably will not come back to Ector County until the middle of next week, he said.

In the mean time, local health care providers are asking those with suspicious symptoms to remain isolated, which Solla said is vital at this stage.

Across the world, meanwhile, the outbreak teeters on the verge of all-out pandemic.

The World Health Organization raised the flu strains worldwide health risk alert level to Phase 5, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website describes as a "strong signal that a pandemic is imminent" and counteraction is necessary immediately.

According to the WHO website, 11 countries are reporting 257 cases of the influenza strain worldwide, with the United States with the most reported cases. Mexico has the second-highest number of confirmed cases and, at seven, has the highest number of confirmed deaths.

During a nationwide conference call this morning Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Richard Besser said more deaths most likely are unavoidable in the United States.

Closer to home, another 10 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Texas, bringing the state's total to 26 confirmed cases in seven counties, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin.

Nationwide, the total number of cases has risen to 109 across 11 states, the most recent addition to that list being Georgia, according to information released by Besser during the conference.

He said the CDC has released supplies from its strategic reserves - which, thanks to years of planning for scenarios just like this one, should provide plenty - to nine states thus far. All impacted states should receive necessary medicine by May 3. 

"There are no reports, and we don't expect any reports, of shortages of any antivirals in any states," Besser said. "We're doing this movement of drugs as a forward leaning move in the event this will become something much bigger than it is." 

But he did say he expects the breadth and severity of the outbreak to continue to worsen in the coming days.

Ongoing transmission is all but assured, he continued, adding that thus far the outbreak has been relatively mild for U.S. citizens.

"What I would hope to see here, I would love to see the same types of cases we're seeing, which are primarily the less severe cases," Besser said.

He said the seasonal flu virus kills an average of 36,000 people each year, and this particular strain most likely will wreak its own havoc on infected populations.

"So I think as we see this virus in more communities, as we see more people who are infected by this virus, we're going to see a broad spectrum of disease, from milder infections to more severe infections," Besser said. "Unfortunately, I do expect that there will be more deaths."

Besser asked the public to exercise caution through common sense.

Individuals who aren't feeling well and who may be infected need to remain at home, lest they infect others, he advised.

"That is part of being a responsible part of our community," Besser said. "You don't want to put other people at risk. I think flying is safe; going on the subway is safe. People should go out and live their lives."

TEXAS COUNTIES WITH CONFIRMED CASES

>> Cameron, 1.

>> Comal, 1.

>> Dallas, 6.

>> Fort Bend, 1.

>> Guadalupe, 9.

>> Starr, 2.

>> Tarrant, 5.

Source: Texas Department of State Health Services.