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Child Is 2nd Swine Flu Case Confirmed In Jefferson County

Posted: 12:02 pm EDT June 25, 2009Updated: 4:30 pm EDT July 27, 2009

Health officials said Wednesday that a child is the second confirmed victim of swine flu in Steubenville.

The child did not require hospitalization and has since recuperated, according to a news release from the Steubenville Department of Health.

Officials said the child had contact with the first person who had the H1N1 virus, a Franciscan University student.

Health officials said the incubation period for the case has expired, but they are continuing to monitor the prevalence for the H1N1 virus and all other communicable diseases.

A local doctor said there is no cause for alarm.

"So far it seems that it is not very contagious for the people who just live in the community and had no close exposure to that person," said Dr. Brijinder Kochhar. "I think our incidents are probably going to stay down because this not a very prevalent thing. These are isolated cases. So far, we're lucky."


Special Section: Questions And Answers About Swine Flu

Medical providers said people should take commonsense precautions like covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sneezing into their elbow rather than their hand.

People should also wash their hands frequently; if soap and water aren't available, hand sanitizer gels can substitute. People should stay home if they're sick and keep children home from school if they are.

Health authorities said people who live in places where swine flu cases have been confirmed, or recently traveled to Mexico and have flu-like symptoms, should ask a doctor if they need treatment or to be tested. Allergies won't cause a fever, and run-of-the-mill stomach bugs won't be accompanied by respiratory symptoms.

Since the outbreak began in late April, the Ohio Valley has recorded three cases: the two in Steubenville and another in Hancock County.

Across West Virginia, the number of confirmed cases is currently at 276. Officials at the W.V. Dept. of Health and Human Resources report that 243 of these cases are W.V., and 33 are from out of state, but treated in W.V.

H1N1 has been confirmed in the following counties in W.V.: Berkely, Barbour, Boone, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Gilmer, Greenbrier, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mercer, Mingo, Monongalia, Ohio, Pendleton, Preston, Putnam, Raleigh, Roane, Tucker, Tyler, Upshur, Wayne, Wetzel, Wood and Wyoming. Wood County accounts for 78 of the cases in W.V., and 72 are located in Kanawha County.

Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department has also confirmed two positive cases of the H1N1 virus in Ohio County.

Nationwide, the number of H1N1 cases has increased to 43,771. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also reporting 302 deaths associated with this outbreak.

Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.

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