The human swine flu outbreak continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report additional cases of confirmed swine influenza and a number of hospitalizations of swine flu patients, including one case in Elyria.

County and city health departments urge residents to contact their health care provider if they have visited areas where swine influenza cases have been identified (or who have been exposed to a known case of swine flu) and who become ill with flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever
• Fever with a rash

In adults emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

For more information, the following swine flu hotlines are available:

Cuyahoga County Board of Health: 216-201-2091
City of Cleveland: 216-664-3609

Further details are available at:

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/