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Swine flu verified in county; ID protected Santa Rosa County registered its first case of H1N1 (swine flu) last week when a sample from an adult female was confirmed positive by testing at the Florida Department of Health Pensacola Branch Laboratory. At the advice of her physician, the woman was urged to self-isolate herself at home for several days while taking Tamiflu, an antiviral medication that has shown to be effective in treating the virus. The woman was to remain at home until after completing her antiviral treatment. Shannon Jacobs, administrator of the Santa Rosa County Health Department in Milton, refused to disclose the patient's location after repeated inquiries from local media outlets including Gulf Breeze News. As a result, many Santa Rosa County residents questioned whether they were in danger of being exposed by this patient. Jacobs defended his reasoning. "I'm just doing all I can to try and protect this person's privacy," Jacobs said. "It's so easy to connect the dots, even in a county as big as Santa Rosa. "This person doesn't work in a healthcare position, as a daycare worker or as a school employee. If any of those were the case, we'd really be reaching out if we thought they might be spreading the virus from there." Jacobs said the Health Department has been closely monitoring the situation. He did reveal that the female resident had traveled to California for about a week recently, and she started feeling sick after she returned to the area. "She went to see her family physician," Jacobs said. "They tested her with a rapid-flu test, and she was positive for influenza A. That required additional testing in the state lab in Pensacola. "We've had probably a little over 20 tests in the last few weeks that have gone over there after testing positive in the doctor's office. But all of those were sub-typed to something other than H1N1." Jacobs said the H1N1 virus, which has claimed more than 200 lives worldwide this spring, is transmitted through droplets created by sneezing or coughing. The virus can live a short time on surfaces, such as the hands and face and handrails, doorknobs and the like. Contrary to popular belief, the virus does not travel long distances through the air. People can be exposed, however, on buses, airplanes, and in other close environments. |
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