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First H1N1 Case Confirmed in Loudoun

By Erica Garman at 4:34 p.m., May 26, 2009 (8 comments)

The Loudoun County Health Department announced today its first confirmed case of the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu.

The patient - a male under the age of 18 - did not require hospitalization and has fully recovered, said Loudoun County Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend, adding that the patient helped "minimize spread of the infection by remaining in voluntary isolation at home while ill."

Dr. Goodfriend would not release details about where the patient may have traveled recently.

"The fact is, this is the first confirmed case of the virus in Loudoun," he said. "That's not to say that there aren't others in the county who have contracted it."

Experts say symptoms of H1N1 are similar to those of seasonal flu and often include fever, cough, chills, sore throat and fatigue. Persons with H1N1 are contagious for up to seven days after the onset of illness and maybe longer if they still have symptoms.

Dr. Goodfriend makes the same recommendations to guard against the H1N1 virus as he does for other flu strains:

Stay home from work or school when ill and limit contact with others.
Call health care providers before seeking care so infection control measures can be put in place.
Cover nose and mouth with sleeve or tissue when coughing or sneezing.
Wash hands often with soap and warm water or use alcohol-based hand cleaners when soap and water aren't available.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
Prevent the spread of germs by not touching eyes, nose or mouth.

Comments:

Note: LoudounExtra.com does not necessarily agree with comments posted below — responsibility lies with the relevant reader alone. Peruse our reader agreement and privacy policy

I just found this video on You Tube that really shows how germs and viruses spread. It is so cool. It's meant for kids but I even learned a lot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56mq1t1Bq...

Posted by breehill9 (anonymous) on May 26, 2009 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It would be helpful to at least know what school this teen attends.

Posted by GenuineRisk (anonymous) on May 26, 2009 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is a simple truth that, in the laboratory, researchers have NEVER been able to get anyone to catch flu when the temperature is over eighty degrees--that is why flu "goes away" in the summer. That is what we are now seeing with H1N1--just wait till fall. What concerns me the most is the unusual level of response by the various governments to the the threat--could it be that they know something they haven't told us?--would a government intentionally mislead its people?

Posted by Skerns0301 (anonymous) on May 26, 2009 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't get all paranoid over this. Remember, we were supposed to be done by avian flu a couple of years ago. It's the flu. Eat right, exercise, wash your hands ... you'll be fine. 6 BILLION people are on the planet. A couple hundred died. Do the math.

Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not to mention the West Nile virus we all have to worry about.

Posted by dingus5 (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Who said this was a teenager? A male under the age of 18. It was a boy 8 years old from the Sterling area who had traveled to Texas recently.

Posted by hogfarmer55 (anonymous) on May 28, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If this story was about an 8 year old from Sterling, then there is another case in Loudon Schools. Parent's got a letter from Broad Run High School on Monday that there was a student there that had tested postive for the swine flu.

Posted by ftblvr (anonymous) on June 3, 2009 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

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