StarBulletin.com

100 more in isles contract swine flu


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POSTED: Thursday, June 18, 2009

The swine flu virus continues to spread in Hawaii but appears to have had a moderate effect so far in the islands.

An additional 100 cases were reported within the last week, raising confirmed cases to 298, but there were no major complications, state Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said.

In the 298 cases, no one required hospitalization and all who got the flu have either recovered or are recovering at home without complications, she said.

“;We've had no deaths,”; Okubo said.

Of the 100 new cases, 98 were on Oahu, one on Maui and one on Kauai.

Health officials have tested 1,350 people for the H1N1 influenza A virus to date.

The breakdown by island of those testing positive for swine flu since the first cases were reported on May 5 are Oahu, 288; Big Island, 4; Kauai, 3; and Maui, 3.

The department asks people to call a doctor if a fever rises higher than 100 degrees and if a sore throat or cough develops.

People are advised to stay home if they are sick to avoid spreading the virus.

Home care guidelines are on the department Web site at http://www.hawaii. gov/health.

Information on H1N1 influenza is available by calling Aloha United Way's 211, which has interpretation and TDD/TTY services.

Health officials stress good hygiene to avoid flu viruses—washing hands, covering a cough or sneeze and not touching face, eyes, nose and mouth.