|
|||
 |
|||
| News | |||
| Media Contact: Office of Institutional Advancement (602) 787-7774 |
|||
PHOENIX April 30, 2009 –
As information on Swine Flu cases continues to emerge locally and nationally, health officials assure the Maricopa Community Colleges that there is no reason for alarm.Dr. Bob England, medical director for Maricopa County's public health department explained that while he shares the concern of the community, he is not overly worried.
"So far, all of the Swine Flu cases in the United States have behaved just like regular flu," England said. "No more aggressive...making people no more ill than you would expect from the regular flu virus." And in fact, that was the case with the Arizona cases he discussed today.
Dr. England explained that the health department is taking aggressive measures in closing three elementary schools because this is a new virus. "Until health officials have learned enough about it, and are certain that we know enough about it, we will do what we need to do to limit its spread, to slow its spread in the community until hopefully at some point we'll be comfortable enough that it is behaving just like seasonal flu and then we can lower our guard."
At the Maricopa Community Colleges, the Maricopa Emergency Management System Team (MEMS) is activated and is closely following the situation. MEMS is working directly with County health officials and under directives from the Centers for Disease Control.
The most important thing we can all do is to take preventive health measures as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control.
More information:
The Centers for Disease Control
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
The Arizona Department of Health Services
www.azdhs.gov/flu/swine/index.htm
Maricopa County Public Health
www.maricopa.gov/Public_Health/
Media contact:
Chris Chesrown
(480) 731.8789
chris.chesrown@domail.maricopa.edu
###
