Suspected Swine Flu at Amherst College Being Tested by CDC

A number of students at Amherst College have been tested for influenza after demonstrating the symptoms associated with the disease. Two of the test results have been further tested by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). Those samples have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for definitive testing for swine flu. The Town of Amherst has been advised by MDPH that the CDC test results are expected by Saturday, May 2, 2009.

Epi Bodhi, Director of the Amherst Public Health Department cautioned, “This development is cause for concern, but not for alarm. Not all flu symptoms are the result of swine flu. However, I would recommend that precautions be taken.”

Those precautions are as follows:

• Avoid hugging, holding, kissing or shaking hands with anyone who has a cold or the flu.
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes.
• Clean items that are touched often such as telephones and door handles.
• If you get sick, stay home and avoid contact with others.
• Severe symptoms should prompt you to contact your health care provider.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, or sneeze into the crook of your elbow if no tissue is available.

For information, please see the Fact Sheet on the Town of Amherst web site www.amherstma.gov, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) web site at www.mass.gov/dph/flu, or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.

Further, general information on this topic may be obtained by calling the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) 24 hours per day by dialing 211.