Update

BRIGHTON – The swine flu is coming close to Colorado. But as of Tuesday, none of the 64 confirmed cases in the United States were in this area. The closest was Kansas.

Even so, Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton was taking no chances. Emergency department Director Mary Feeney said the hospital was taking proactive measures to identify and perhaps treat cases of swine flu should the disease show up in the area. The hospital plans to follow recommendations from the Tri-County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control for treatment.

Brighton School District 27J head nurse Gina Hebert said the district is aware of the situation from the schools and from the Tri-County Health Department.

"As kids with flu (respiratory) symptoms visit the school clinics, the nurses recommend that parents take their children to the doctor," she said. "There have been fewer than usual students with flu symptoms for this time of year."

Before the swine flu outbreak, Platte Valley Medical Center planned a pandemic flu emergency response drill for May 4 at the hospital.

“Our emergency department is prepared to receive and treat any patient who presents symptoms,” Feeney said. “We are fully equipped with masks, gloves and other essential protective gear, precautions and treatments.”

The CDC said one of the problems with this particular round of swine flu is that it’s a new virus not seen in pigs or in humans in this country. The symptoms vary from fevers, coughing, a sore throat, aches, chills and fatigue. Some patients can experience vomiting and diarrhea. The virus also seems to be affecting healthy people with strong immune systems. When the last swine flu scare hit the U.S. in the 1970s, it attacked the young and the elderly.

The swine flu spreads from person-to-person contact, mainly through coughing and sneezing. People can come into contact with the virus through such things as contact with computer keyboards, too. Health officials say this year’s vaccine against the flu won’t help.

The best way to prevent it, according to the district, CDC and other health officials, is to wash one’s hands as often as possible, drink plenty of clear fluids (such as water), cover coughing and sneezing attacks and avoid close contact with others if you sense the onset of a cold. Stay home from school or the office.

"In classes, students are being reminded that hand washing is the best way to stop transmission of the disease," Hebert said. "The district will take our directions from Tri-County Health if the situation gets worse."

The CDC hotline is 1-800-CDC-INFO. Visit http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/epr/H1N1.html and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/investigation.htm