PA:
Pittston Area Prepares for School
By Andy Palumbo
6:40 AM EDT, October 13, 2009
http://www.wnep.com/wnep-luz-pitts-area-back-to-school,0,7703539.story
School is back in session at Pittston Area school district in Luzerne County after last week’s swine flu scare.
Classes here were cancelled Friday because so many students were sick with the flu. Monday was the Columbus Day holiday so Tuesday is the day things are supposed to be back to normal.
On Friday, the Pittston Area school district closed. Students were told to stay home because hundreds of students failed to show up last week. They were sick with the flu, many believed to have the H1N1 virus, or the swine flu.
The school buildings were disinfected. District personnel reasoned that if the students weren’t together, it would lessen the chances of the flu spreading.
The Friday night football game was postponed, because so many Patriots were sick. The game was played Monday night. The flu-delayed game gave some in the stands opportunity to poke fun at the situation. We spotted a pig mask and some anti-germ face masks in the crowd.
An illness-delayed game was new territory for the Pittston Area coach and the Hazleton fans.
“I’ve never dealt with this. You have two or three kids sick at a time, but never this many,” said Pittston Area head coach Tony Donato.
“If Pittston Area was able to catch it in time, even if there’s just a couple cases, it’s better to know it than not to have any idea,” said Peter Domin of West Hazleton.
Pittston Area lost to Hazleton 47-0.
Houston, TX:
3 Swine Flu Cases Cause Heart Concerns
By Elizabeth Scarborough
POSTED: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
UPDATED: 6:35 am CDT October 13, 2009
http://www.click2houston.com/health/21280048/detail.html
HOUSTON — There’s new fear that people with the swine flu could be at risk for heart failure, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.
Dr. Barry Diner works in emergency medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital, where in the last week they’ve seen a disturbing trend.
“There’s been three cases that also developed into heart failure,” said Diner.
It’s the first we’ve heard of swine flu potentially causing such a risk, and the doctor said he hasn’t seen heart failure with the regular flu.
“It’s kind of concerning because we don’t necessarily see that unless we have overwhelming infection,” said Diner.
With only three cases, Diner said there’s not enough evidence for a direct link between swine flu and heart failure yet, but there is reason for concern.
Of the three patients, one was a teenager and one was a pregnant woman. Doctors delivered the baby early and the new mother is in critical condition.
Doctors said one of the swine flu patients died after heart failure within 24 hours of coming into the hospital.
This comes as Harris County health officials said there have been an additional six swine flu deaths in the county since June.
Three men and three women, all adults over the age of 19 and one over the age of 65, have died. The county said that at least half had pre-existing medical conditions.
“While sadly these deaths are truly tragic for the families, we’re not surprised that we’re having deaths,” said Rita Obey with the Harris County Health Department.
Doctors now are saying if you get flu-like symptoms, you have to judge for yourself if a trip to the hospital is necessary.
“When someone’s not feeling well and they feel like they can’t handle themselves at home, they need to come to the hospital for an evaluation,” said Diner.