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Published Thursday, April 30, 2009 in Local
Photo by Jeff Bishop
Coweta County Health Department Nursing Director Alice Jackson told local officials Thursday that there is one confirmed case of swine flu in the district and one unconfirmed case in Coweta County.
Flu getting closer to home
By Jeff Bishop
The Newnan Times-Herald
State health officials confirmed the first case of swine flu in Georgia on Thursday -- a 30-year-old Kentucky woman who fell ill in LaGrange during a trip to west Georgia.
Meanwhile, four more possible swine flu specimens from District 4 have been sent to the state lab for confirmation -- a culture taken from a Coweta County male, along with one culture from Fayette County and two from Carroll County.
Cases with flu-like systems are submitted to the state lab for testing. Those that come up with "suspicious" results are sent to the CDC for further testing.
"The one from Coweta and the one from Fayette, they both traveled to Mexico City," said Alice Jackson, lead nurse for the Coweta County Health Department, during a local meeting on the outbreak Thursday afternoon.
By Thursday morning, 13 cases had been sent to the state lab but only the LaGrange case had been sent on to the CDC. Jackson said she believes the culture was taken from the Coweta patient Wednesday, and she doesn't know how long it will be before it is confirmed or denied as swine flu.
"I presume that sometime [today] it will get to Atlanta," she said.
Jackson fielded questions from school and county government officials, local law enforcement and ambulance service providers at the meeting at the health department. They discussed the possibility of holding a forum next week to inform local businesses about the disease and steps they might take to ensure that it doesn't spread among employees.
Jackson said she was notified Thursday morning that the first case of swine flu in Georgia had been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
"She was traveling through LaGrange when she got sick," said Jackson, "and she had been to Mexico."
Dr. Elizabeth Ford, head of Georgia's Division of Public Health, said the infected woman had traveled to Cancun, Mexico, earlier in April. The woman then went home to Kentucky before traveling to Georgia for a wedding.
The people who were traveling with the woman to Mexico, as well as friends and family who were with her in Georgia, have tested negative for swine flu, Ford said. They have been given flu treatment as a precautionary measure.
The woman was admitted to West Georgia Medical System in LaGrange on Sunday with "flu-like symptoms," medical system president and CEO Jerry Fulks told the Associated Press. She has been treated in isolation in a "negative pressure room," which means the air is sucked out of the room through filters to remove airborne pathogens, Fulks said. Nurses and doctors caring for her are wearing masks, gloves and gowns.
Health officials declined to provide details about her condition.
"She is under excellent control," Fulks said. "The clinicians treating her are very confident in their ability to take care of her."
Ford said the woman returned from Mexico on April 21 after a weeklong trip.
"We are being very mindful of trying to contain the level of panic," Ford said.
People should cover their sneezes and stay home from school or work if they feel sick, health officials said.
The World Health Organization has raised its alert level to Phase 5, the second-highest, indicating a pandemic may be imminent.
Swine flu has symptoms nearly identical to regular flu -- fever, cough and sore throat -- and spreads like regular flu, through tiny particles in the air, when people cough or sneeze.
The most up-to-date information on H1N1 flu developments in Georgia is available at the Division of Public Health's Web site at www.health.state.ga.us/swineflu .
Commenting on this story has ended.
I thought you were a fulltime college student. At least that is what you said in another article you made comments.
Posted by Tom at 12:41 PM
First Off I do have an education. The truth is that illegals cost this country billions a year and crime is up in all the border states because of illegals. You are the one with the blinders on. Maybe you should try working instead living off of someone else money and you will see what the real world is like.
Posted by Dash Riprock at 9:40 AM
It's obvious from my statement that I don't work? Apparently your obvious meter needs recalibrating. What's obvious from your statement is that you are willfully ignorant of the truth because the truth wouldn't support your chosen prejudices. Keep the blinders on and the hate flowing, all that will get you is a world of turmoil. Try an education, it's not nearly as painful as you seem to believe.
Posted by Elizabeth at 3:46 PM
First off I never said I was more human. ITs obvious by your statement that you probaly don't work. An illegal gets all the free medical care they want. Its a proven fact. Your statement just shows how clueless you are about the real world.
Posted by Dash Riprock at 11:15 AM
Its truly sad that not one person has stopped to think about this poor girl in the hospital, her condition or her FAMILY that may fall upon one of these articles. How do you think they may feel reading about some of you making the arrogant comments that you are. Has anyone read how this girl is doing.. no, I didnt think so, thats because they arent saying but if you ask me, if shes been in the hospital for almost a week, she probably isnt doing so well. So i suggest you think before you make your comments. Do you really that one would risk the lives of others if she had known she had this virus? I dont think so.
Posted by Annoyed at 11:22 PM
Interesting to know that you feel you are somehow more human than so-called illegals. Actually a lot of illegals pay taxes without reaping the benefits. When they are given a fake social security number by some unscrupulous legal citizen, for personal profit, their tax payments go in, but they get nothing in return. They also pay all the same local, state, and federal sales taxes as you and I do. And trust me, many of them do not receive free medical care, often they receive no medical care because they must send what money they make back to the families they are trying so desperately to support. Meanwhile they are getting paid far less than you or I would for the same job because they are "illegal". They are human beings as much as you or I, and they deserve the same respect and the right to seek out a decent living for themselves and their families. Clamber down off your high horse, you are only here by an accident of birth and are no better than anyone else.
Posted by Elizabeth at 5:15 PM
I am legal so yes I do have more rights in the USA then a illegal. I work and pay taxes. How many Illegals do you know that pay taxes? They work and send their money back to Mexico and get free medical care while I have to pay for it.
Posted by Dash Riprock at 3:19 PM
I don't see anything funny about what onik said as to reader.I don't attened Pastor Billy Balls church but you should be ashamed of yourself.Whats wrong?Is he stepping on your toes I'm sure he was aiming for your heart.You might hve to call on him one day.for prayer when know one else is around to pray.That is a very bad thing sayins something about a man of Jesus.I will pray for you and reader ya'll really need it.I guess it wouldn't be funny on judgement day when the Lord ask you why you was throwing stones at a man who lives for Jesus.What are you gonna tell him when you meet him face to face what are you gonna say on judgementday.If you don't know who I am talking about it is JESUS. Yes he can heal us of the swine flu and anything else.
Posted by cynthia at 4:21 AM
The media totally twists things for the sake of keeping us all GLUED to the news like a bunch of paranoid freaks. Everything is just the end of the world these days, is it not? All the hysteria caused Egypt to slaughter 350,000 poor pigs! For what? Dumb. When will we learn??
Posted by Dee at 2:34 AM
All that amounts to, Dash, is one group pretending they have more rights than another. We are all equally residents of this planet, and we owe each other better than that.
Posted by Elizabeth at 12:09 AM
Dyark, the Men in Black are coming to get you!
Posted by liz at 11:46 PM
This is now that was then.
Posted by Dash Riprock at 7:40 PM
Swine flu doesn't sound as scary or exotic as the West Nile Virus. I like The Porcine Pandemic...sounds more scientific and diseaseish. Break out the masks!!!
Posted by John C at 5:00 PM
whatever happends is what god whants and he is the only way so pray and get god into your lives!
Posted by ashley phillips at 4:59 PM
Great comment about Dr. Nat Glover. Lord knows he got me through many illnesses with my children. I miss him & wish he was here for my grandchildren.
Posted by Marie at 3:48 PM
Nunya you just ignant.
Posted by Reader at 2:50 PM
Hey Porky Pig.....now that is funny! Good comic relief for a Fri!
Posted by Reader at 2:47 PM
This is more entertaining than Starship Enterprise, I-85 construction and the roundabouts combined. Now all we need is Pastor Billy Ball to say the swine flu is God's next plague upon this country for condoning the gay life.
Posted by PORKY PIG/NEWNAN at 2:08 PM
It was once said that a black man would be president “when pigs fly” and 100 days into the presidency “swine flu”
Posted by mark at 1:25 PM
Bird Flu anyone...this reminds me of the pandameic a few years back and let's not forget that awful west nile.
Posted by LW at 12:56 PM
Yo Dash, Ask the Native Americans who were plagued with your small pox if you were legal immigrants or not. I assure you they will tell you no.
Posted by worried at 12:16 PM
We are legal immigrants. The ones coming across the border are not.
Posted by Dash Riprock at 9:04 AM
This is a nation of immigrants. Shutting down the borders is ignorant, irrational, and not practical. The regular flu kills thousands of people every year in this country. The Swine flu has killed a little more than a handful in Mexico and 1 person here. It's not any deadlier or more dangerous than the regular flu that breaks out here every single year. All you have to do is take decent care of yourself, and if you are sick, stay home so as not to pass the illness to others, especially the very young, very old, or otherwise potentially health impaired people who are more likely to die from any illness.
Posted by Elizabeth at 7:25 AM
if Dr. Nat Glover was around we would all be better...
Posted by SOG at 6:15 AM
you folks act like its the plaque or something. ITS A FLU!!!wash hands, cover your nose when sneezing, cover yourself when coughing...seems I have heard this before....calm down...dad-gum!!!
Posted by SOG at 6:11 AM
Are we getting the real facts from our government? I was told by friends on the internet that work at a San Diego hospital there have been several deaths in California that may be due to this. Why is this not being reported? If I have to believe in them or this government, I choose my friends.
Posted by Dyark at 3:52 AM
We want close the border. All those illegals will soon become citizens.
Posted by Dash Riprock at 2:44 AM
You people make me laugh. This is great and cheap entertainment. BTW look up flu vs. cold symptoms - not the same!
Posted by laughing hard at 1:55 AM
Hey "Not You," if people acted responsibly, quarantining would hardly be necessary. My comment was made in half-jest but you get the point. It's hardly harsh. More like wishful thinking, hoping people will do the right thing. And to "tbean," most of the comments posted here were in response to the first article confirming the case in Lagrange. When the paper updated the story, the comments followed. Original story had no info about when the patient went to or from Mexico compared to when she learned about Swine Flu. Did she not see anyone in that country wearing masks? Did it not cross her mind AT ALL once she got back and heard the news? How could she have missed it? Just knowing she was there and POTENTIALLY exposed should've been cause enough for concern. DUH!
Posted by Oink oink at 1:43 AM
Our so called President needs to close the border and stop all flights in and out of the USA.. We need to think about our own people and nation.. Stop letting people from other countries to come into the USA.
Posted by SMR at 1:10 AM
I think we could all benefit from a piece of advice concerning hygiene - if you want to avoid the swine flu, just be sure to NEVER kiss a pig with a runny nose, NEVER.
Posted by Brian at 1:03 AM
This is what happens when we allow illegals from another country that doesn't have as strict of health standards as we do! Wise up people time to chase all the illegals OUT of our country! Where do you think all the other diseases are making a comeback from? Make the illegals leave and shut down the Mexican border so no one can travel in or out!
Posted by Nunya at 12:10 AM
to oink oink, please try to make all GA resindents stay in GA in case of flu like symtoms. I think that was a little harsh. Good luck on trying.
Posted by Not you at 11:26 PM
did it ever occur to anyone that people didn't start having symptoms until after traveling there and until after doing other things? and who says someone would have KNOWN they were exposed to anything? The news of it did just break not too long ago...
Posted by tbean at 7:54 PM
are you people dense? Seriously...When did the news of this flu even break? Did you not read the article? HOW WAS ANYONE TO EVEN KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE EXPOSED TO, IF THERE WASN'T EVEN REPORTS YET? There were NO reports of it what so ever during the dates that she was there. And its not every day someone thinks, hey, I'm going here today let me see if theres a deadly outbreak before I go! Someone who just got back from cancun wouldn't necessarily be having symptoms as soon as they get back, FYI. And FYI...the flu has the same symptoms as a common cold at first. THIS is what makes it so dangerous. NOW people DO know, any symptoms, get checked out. At that time though, it wasn't known.
Posted by tbean at 7:48 PM
If people start sporting snouts, I will freak out.
Posted by Pepe at 6:22 PM
OK, it's it bit too close for comfort but if none of the LaGrange patient's family, friends & others around her have it, why panic? Lysol still kills germs & viruses, including flu. Those anti-bacterial hand santizers don't touch viruses-just FYI. To "Concerned Parent": go elsewhere and get a second opinion! I agree with "Newnan Resident." If someone has been to Mexico where they KNOW they might have been exposed, WHY are they travelling,not just home but to other states? Thanks alot Kentucky visitor. Next time, stay home! But come back when you're well! :-)
Posted by Not oinkin yet at 5:31 PM
I took my son to the Dr. with symptoms and a concern of the environment he works in, large Mexican based clients and the Dr. snickered at me. He sent him home from school and work a week with antibotics and an inhaler. Any suggestions on what I should do?
Posted by concerned parent at 4:49 PM
I too am praying for our state and country. May God use this to bring revival back to his people. May He forgive us, have mercy on us and hear our prayers.
Posted by God will hear if we're humble at 4:30 PM
Folks! Folks! Don't GO NUTS! We have all had the flu before. and we have all gotten over the flu. There are no cases of anyone dying that were exposed in the US. Only those exposed in Mexico have died, none of the exposure cases in the US have resulted in death. Take the proper precautions, and keep clear of high concentrations of south, Americans. Check the CDC website, and for goodness sakes don’t watch the “Quick! Panic!!!” TV news media. Calm down and brush up on hygiene. Clean your common areas with a bleach/water mixture for a while. That will kill all chances of the flu virus spreading. Watch fruit and vegetables you purchase at the grocery store, as this virus can live on hard surfaces. Make sure fruit and vegetables are cleaned prior to consumption.
Posted by Bobby Hawk at 3:39 PM
In this economy, and with so many students that went to Mexico on spring break, and we all no students have NO money, I think places should start offering free screenings.
Posted by Shannon W. at 3:05 PM
This is one isolated case in Lagrange. So far no one exposed to this woman has gotten sick.
Posted by C at 2:52 PM
La Grange? Crap!
Posted by worried at 2:40 PM
Now is the time to PANIC!!!!!!!!!
Posted by armchair vigilante at 2:37 PM
What the heck?? If you know you've been to Mexico and you know there is a nearing pandemic of the swine flu, why would you continue to travel around and spread your germs? A responsible person would quarantine themselves for a few days to see if they have any symptoms, after visiting Mexico. That's the right thing to do. These selfish people make me sick.
Posted by Newnan resident at 2:34 PM
Well....here we go --- just what the enemy would have happen. "Do not be afraid, Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philippians 4:6-7
Posted by Praying for our state and nation... at 2:29 PM
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Assumptions
5/4/2009
Link To This Comment
Again you assume I do not work, and Tom if you'd go back and read again you'd see that I said I am a full time college student and my husband and I run a business as well. Therefore, Dash, I do support myself and don't live off of anyone else at all. Marginalized people do tend to turn to crime, perhaps if we stopped marginalizing them it wouldn't be necessary. The Statue of Liberty says "Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free", it says nothing about excepting those we just choose to exclude because of our personal prejudices. If a person is "illegal" merely by their existence within our borders everything they do is classified as a crime, and they have no choice but to exist as criminals or return to the hellish existence they were willing to crawl through deserts to escape. Perhaps if you could have an exchange in which you did not automatically resort to unfounded insults, aka ad hominem attacks, you would not find like insults returned your way, Dash. You asserted your belief that I do not work, which leads me to believe by your very own statements that you must lack an education. Otherwise you would not assume that people who disagree with you must not work, an argument that has no logical trail to follow. BTW, if you're attempting to convince others that you have an education you might try using proper English and punctuation, and I quote "instead living off of someone else money".
Posted by Elizabeth at 8:04 PM