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Google"Both patients were tested for influenza at Avera Spencer Family Care," Rossiter said, in a statement from Spencer Hospital administration. "When the rapid influenza test was performed for both individuals, the test results were positive for Influenza A, which is an indicator they may have H1N1 influenza. The suspected cases of H1N1 influenza were then sent to the U of I lab for confirmation."
Both patients are young adults, and both had mild symptoms of influenza, according to Rossiter.
"Once H1N1 influenza is confirmed in an area, not all cases will be sent to U of I's Hygienic Lab for testing as it is reasonable to expect that other people have been exposed to the virus," she said. "Some cases will be mild and for those, people will not necessarily seek medical care."
Rossiter's advisory continued: "Regardless if individuals seek treatment or not, we urge anyone with influenza symptoms -- sudden fever with aches, headaches, cough, and/or lung congestion -- stay home until they are better. Do not send your children to school or daycare if they have influenza symptoms. Do not go to work if you are ill. Not only do you increase the length of your illness and risks for complications, you also risk infecting others who may have less resistant immune systems."
The confirmation comes a day after Spencer Hospital began restricting visitors to its Obstetrics Unit during influenza season. Only immediate family will be permitted to visit OB patients, which includes the baby's father, grandparents and siblings.
"We know extended family and friends are anxious to welcome their newest member of their family into the world; however, in the best interest of our tiniest patients and their mothers, we need to limit visitors during the influenza season," explained Jeannette Hasley, director of Obstetric Services.
In addition, Hasley's staff will be asking those immediate family members some basic health questions, including if the visitor has been around anyone ill with a cold or influenza; if the visitor has had a fever within the past seven days, or if the visitor has been nauseated or has had diarrhea within the past week.
"Other hospitals around the country are establishing similar visitation policies in the best interest of their patients," Hasley said.
Susan Zulk, vice president of Marketing and Fund Development said Spencer Hospital has traditionally avoided restricting visitors to the OB Unit. New precautions are a direct result of concerns over the H1N1 virus.
"We really do not want to risk our babies potentially being exposed," she said. "Our nurses are always on the lookout when visitors come -- even if they notice they might be sneezing or coughing -- they will encourage the parents to discourage those visits. That's something that happens routinely throughout the hospital. We always ask people not to come visit the hospital if they have flu symptoms"
The flu season isn't confined to specific dates on a calendar, so it can be difficult to forecast when extended family will be allowed back in the OB Unit, according to Zulk.
"Every flu season is a little bit different," she said. "Sometimes they are longer than others. Traditionally, the influenza season will go through spring. Then, once people are outside more and not contained as much, the influenza is not spread as easily. Therefore it tends to subside."
Clay County Public Health Nurse Rossiter reminded the public to know the emergency warning signs of H1N1 influenza in children:
* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish or gray skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
The Spencer Hospital Web site has additional information on H1N1 influenza by clicking on the Health & Wellness tab at www.spencerhospital.org. The Iowa Department of Public Health Web site is another resource at www.idph.state.ia.us.
CDC CONCERNED:
Dr. Anne Schuchat heads the Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. She told reporters 37 states now are reporting widespread swine flu cases, up from 27 a week ago -- when reports at the time suggested that cases might be leveling off and even decreasing in some areas of the country.
Health officials said Friday that 76 children have died of swine flu, including 16 new reports in the past week -- more evidence the new virus is unusually dangerous in kids. The regular flu kills between 46 and 88 children a year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
With swine flu cases increasing throughout most of the country, more deaths are likely, Schuchat said at a press conference Friday.
Meanwhile, CDC officials say states have ordered 3.7 million doses of swine flu vaccine for a campaign that started this week. Demand is exceeding supply, at least so far, and people seeking the vaccination can start by contacting their state or local health department to find out where to go, she said.
Health officials also said more data is trickling in from several clinical trials of the new vaccine, and so far no serious side effects have been reported.
Preliminary information from one study indicates that both a seasonal flu shot and a swine flu shot are effective when given during the same doctor's office visit. However, the government is not recommending that people get the nasal spray versions of the seasonal and swine flu vaccines at the same time.
The nasal sprays contain weakened, live virus, and the government doesn't have data on how a person's immune system would react to exposure to both at the same time, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The CDC doesn't have an exact count of all swine flu deaths and hospitalizations, but existing reports suggest the infection has caused more than 600 deaths and more than 9,000 hospitalizations since it was first identified in April.
-- Associated Press