Iowan Tests Positive for H1N1 Flu, Health Emergency Declared

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: May 2, 2009 at 9:48 AM CST

Story Updated: May 2, 2009 at 5:43 PM CST

DES MOINES - Gov. Chet Culver says tests have confirmed Iowa's first confirmed case of swine flu, prompting him to declare a public health emergency in the state.

Culver announced Saturday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the swine flu diagnosis in a southeast Iowa woman who became ill after returning from Mexico. Since her arrival in Iowa, she traveled through Johnson, Des Moines and Muscatine counties.

In addition, state health officials are reporting seven new probable cases of the flu, six in Marshall County and one in Tama County. Culver says tests for a second probable case of swine flu were negative

“On the state level, we are taking every precaution to help prevent the spread of this disease. We continue to monitor the situation, both in Iowa and around the country,” Culver said in a statement released to the media.

The public health disaster declaration allows the state to purchase and distribute additional antiviral treatments and to deploy public health teams to help out local officials trying to limit potential exposure to the virus.

Under the declaration, the state also is allowed to isolate or quarantine infected people to help prevent the spread of the virus.

State officials had predicted the virus would show up in the state. The Iowa Department of Public Health already has opened its emergency coordination center at a state office building in Des Moines to process information from local health officials and the federal government.

Culver has ordered the Iowa Department of Public Safety to guard the state’s supply of anti-virals and assist with distributing it around the state. The state has about 750,000 courses of anti-virals on hand, and officials believe that will be enough.

Health officials are urging Iowans to take measures to avoid the spread of the virus, including frequent hand washing, and coughing or sneezing into the sleeve or a tissue instead of the hands. Those with fevers over 100 degrees and a cough or sore throat are urged to stay at home.

Department of Public Health Director Tom Newton has said that many of the H1N1 cases in the United States so far have been mild.

The state has instituted an influenza hotline at 1-800-447-1985 for people with questions or concerns about the illness..

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