Symptoms and Precautions
Swine flu symptoms are:
• A fever greater than 100 degrees.
• Body aches, coughing, sore throat, respiratory congestion.
• Diarrhea and vomiting.
Anyone with those symptoms should take the following precautions:
• Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Stay home.
• Wear a mask before entering a health care facility.
More information is available by calling Monroe Clinic at 324-1160, the Green County Health Department at 328-9390 or the Lafayette County Health Department at (608) 776-4895.More information is available at dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/influenza or www.cdc.gov/flu/swine.
MONROE - There aren't any cases of swine flu in Wisconsin, but county health departments and Monroe Clinic already have made plans to manage an outbreak.
"We are operating with a plan similar to what we have in place for an outbreak of influenza," RoAnn Warden, Green County Health Department director, said Monday.
The plan used by the county for any illness outbreaks is lengthy and involves the state, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Green County Emergency Management, local schools and Monroe Clinic.
"The public should be aware that we have well thought-out and practiced plans in place for this type of outbreak," Warden said. "This is what we prepare for."
The county has conducted emergency preparedness activities over the past couple of years to help solidify plans for disasters, whether they be caused by disease or bioterrorists.
The state and county health departments have been active in their approach to the illness, Lafayette County Health Department Director Debbie Siegenthaler said.
"We're prepared," she said. "We have lots of plans in place."
Warden said 11 people have been tested in Wisconsin; six of those tests were negative for swine flu and five results are pending.
"The main thing is for people not to panic," she said.
Access to health care has helped people in areas of the United States where swine flu has been found. Many people in Mexico don't have the same access to health care as people in the United States, she said.
In Mexico, according to the Associated Press, 149 people have died because of the illness. There have been 40 confirmed cases in the U.S. but no deaths.
Monroe Clinic announced Monday it has adequate supplies of drugs; additional supplies and drugs would be sent to the hospital in the event a swine flu outbreak would take place.
"There is currently no vaccine for swine flu," Monroe Clinic Infection Control Coordinator Mary Flynn said. "The most important thing people can do is avoid becoming infected or spreading the virus."
The Southwestern U.S. - Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and southern California - have seen the most cases of swine flu, Warden said. Anyone who has visited those areas needs to be aware of the symptoms of swine flu.
No one is being singled out as potential carriers of the disease, Warden and Siegenthaler said.
"We aren't going to segregate any of the population, but our message is to anyone who has symptoms and a traveling history of those areas affected (by swine flu)," Siegenthaler said.
Flynn suggested anyone in the Monroe area who has traveled to a country or state with confirmed cases of swine flu or has been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case should contact Monroe Clinic.
"We are operating with a plan similar to what we have in place for an outbreak of influenza," RoAnn Warden, Green County Health Department director, said Monday.
The plan used by the county for any illness outbreaks is lengthy and involves the state, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Green County Emergency Management, local schools and Monroe Clinic.
"The public should be aware that we have well thought-out and practiced plans in place for this type of outbreak," Warden said. "This is what we prepare for."
The county has conducted emergency preparedness activities over the past couple of years to help solidify plans for disasters, whether they be caused by disease or bioterrorists.
The state and county health departments have been active in their approach to the illness, Lafayette County Health Department Director Debbie Siegenthaler said.
"We're prepared," she said. "We have lots of plans in place."
Warden said 11 people have been tested in Wisconsin; six of those tests were negative for swine flu and five results are pending.
"The main thing is for people not to panic," she said.
Access to health care has helped people in areas of the United States where swine flu has been found. Many people in Mexico don't have the same access to health care as people in the United States, she said.
In Mexico, according to the Associated Press, 149 people have died because of the illness. There have been 40 confirmed cases in the U.S. but no deaths.
Monroe Clinic announced Monday it has adequate supplies of drugs; additional supplies and drugs would be sent to the hospital in the event a swine flu outbreak would take place.
"There is currently no vaccine for swine flu," Monroe Clinic Infection Control Coordinator Mary Flynn said. "The most important thing people can do is avoid becoming infected or spreading the virus."
The Southwestern U.S. - Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and southern California - have seen the most cases of swine flu, Warden said. Anyone who has visited those areas needs to be aware of the symptoms of swine flu.
No one is being singled out as potential carriers of the disease, Warden and Siegenthaler said.
"We aren't going to segregate any of the population, but our message is to anyone who has symptoms and a traveling history of those areas affected (by swine flu)," Siegenthaler said.
Flynn suggested anyone in the Monroe area who has traveled to a country or state with confirmed cases of swine flu or has been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case should contact Monroe Clinic.