Swine flu comes to Prince William

SPECIAL REPORT: ABOUT THE SWINE FLU

An active-duty service member and an 18-month-old child were treated earlier this month for swine flu at the Family Health Center of Woodbridge, according to Army officials.

The family health center, located across from Potomac Mills mall on Smoketown Road, is part of Fort Belvoir’s DeWitt Army Community Hospital. DeWitt announced the two confirmed cases this week.

The adult and child, who is a family member, were treated at the health center with Tamiflu. Both have recovered and had remained home over the course of their treatment, according to Army officials.

The Woodbridge health center serves active-duty and retired military and their families in Prince William, as well as parts of Fairfax and Stafford counties.

Both individuals are Fairfax County residents, said Maribeth Brewster, Northern Virginia region spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Health.

“The way confirmed cases are reported in Virginia is by their residence; not where they sought treatment, but where they live,” Brewster said.

As of Wednesday, the state health department reported 23 confirmed cases of swine flu including: two, Arlington; three, Fairfax; 12, central Shenandoah; one, Norfolk; two, Chesterfield; two, Peninsula; and one, Three Rivers.

“There are no confirmed cases that I know of to date in Prince William County,” Brewster said Thursday afternoon.

Army officials did not provide any further information about the identity of the two patients.

The two cases from the Woodbridge clinic are the first cases of swine flu for the DeWitt health care system. Quantico Marine Corps base officials report that they have not had any cases of swine flu at their health clinic.

While initial concerns about the severity of the swine flu, or H1N1, have waned in recent weeks, the virus continues to spread across the country.

“The health of our soldiers, employees and family members continues to be at the top of our minds,” said Lt. Col. Leonardo Martinez, chief of preventive medicine at DeWitt.

Martinez said that DeWitt doctors are seeing a small number of patients on a daily basis with flu-like symptoms.

“Though we will always work hard to keep our beneficiaries healthy and safe, we really need everyone to continue taking preventive measures to protect themselves and limit the spread of the novel H1N1 virus,” he said.

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to seasonal flu and typically include fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and runny nose. Additional symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, headache, chills, fatigue, pneumonia and respiratory failure. Persons with swine flu are contagious for up to seven days after the onset of illness and possibly longer if they are still symptomatic.

As with any infectious disease, the Centers for Disease Control encourages anyone with a flu-like illness to follow these standard guidelines:
If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Try to avoid contact with sick people.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.