Sheppard prepares for possible flu breakout

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With two confirmed cases of swine flu in San Antonio, Sheppard public health officials are urging personnel here to take preventative measures now to prevent a spread of the new strain here. 

Although there have not been any reported cases close to Sheppard, the potential exists because Sheppard receives about 500 Airmen from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio each week. The two confirmed cases do not involve military members or dependents. 

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Jeffrey Lawson, chief of aeromedical operations at the 82nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron, said it's still too early to predict whether or not this strain of influenza will make it to North Texas. But, he said Sheppard does have a disease containment plan in place and is ready to employ it, if needed. 

"We're not at the point to where we want to implement the plan, but the plan is in place," he said. "A lot of what we do is preparedness. The Air Force recognizes the importance of preventative medicine." 

For information on prevention, click here. 

According to the Center for Disease Control's Web site, 40 confirmed cases of the new strain of influenza were reported as of April 27. The majority were in New York City with 28. 

In Mexico, the believed origin of the swine flu, more than 1,600 suspected cases have been reported and more than 140 people have died. 

For officials at Sheppard, their priority is to educate people on the flu strain and prevention efforts, said Capt. (Dr.) Jason Kelly, chief of medical staff at the 82nd Medical Group. 

"We don't see it here," the captain said. "There's the potential, but we don't see it here. Our goal right now is heightened awareness." 

Part of the heightened awareness is taking personal measures to prevent contracting and spreading the flu bug. For example, hand washing, discarding used tissues and not touching eyes, nose or mouth are a few simple precautions. 

Capt. Kari Hunter, a public health officer here, said there really isn't a difference between swine flu and influenza A, the most common form of the virus. She said the signs and symptoms - fever and achy body - are the same. 

"It's still just a strain of influenza," she said. "At this point, they haven't seen anything different, but they are looking into it." 

Colonel Lawson said although the signs and symptoms and treatment are the same, it's difficult to say why people are dying from it in Mexico. 

"What is the real difference?" the colonel asked. "Is it surveillance? Is it the access to medical care? Is there a mutation that occurs? There are so many unknowns right now." 

Captain Hunter said her public health team is proactive in educating permanent party and Airmen in Training when they arrive to Sheppard about various public health concerns. That includes the potential of the swine flu migrating to this region. 

Sheppard is no stranger to various strains of influenze, but not because of breakouts here. The 82nd MDG is part of a conglomerate of facilities around the world that collect samples and battles flu strains.

"We're already a sentinel site and we already provide influenza samples year round," Colonel Lawson said. "It helps us to predict what is coming up next and develop the next flu vaccine." 

For more information about the swine flu, visit the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov.