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Child tests positive for H1N1 in Mecklenburg County

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By Trent Faris - bio l email

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A child in Mecklenburg County is recovering at home after contracting Novel H1N1 Influenza A, or swine flu, according to health officials.

Mecklenburg County Medical Director Stephen Keener addressed the media Monday morning concerning the county's first confirmed case of the disease.

A child who is elementary school-aged tested positive for Novel H1N1 Influenza A.  Both the child and parents are being treated at home.   

"Their health is being monitored on a day to day business with so far no symptoms," said Dr. Keener.

The child and the family drove to Queens, New York, over the Memorial Day weekend.  While there, Keener said the child came in contact with someone who was sick with H1N1.  The child started getting sick while in New York.

When the family drove back to Mecklenburg County, the child was taken to a doctor and tested for Novel H1N1 Influenza A.

The child was hospitalized at Carolinas Medical Center last week and has since been released.  The child remained in the hospital for several days and is now being treated at home with anti-viral medications.

The child's parents are the only known contacts who were exposed to the child.  They, too, are being treated with anti-viral medications.

Keener said the child never came in contact with classmates and there was no need to isolate any other children.

"The child was already coming down with the illness and did not go back to school," said Dr. Keener.

There are more than 8,000 cases of novel H1N1 cases in the U.S. and 15 of those cases have been identified in North Carolina.

"This is going to be with us for quite awhile it's going to be interesting to see what happens this fall when we have our normal what use to be our normal seasonal influenza, if this is going to be our seasonal influenza or be something else," said Dr. Keener.

Both the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and pharmaceutical companies are working to create a vaccine to protect against Novel H1N1 Influenza A virus.

Keener said the health department tests between 2 to 6 suspect cases weekly, but this is the first confirmed case in Mecklenburg County.

Health officials are trying to keep tabs on anyone who gets the virus to determine if it has mutated. 

Not everyone with influenza illness will be tested, but everyone who has a case serious enough to be hospitalized will be tested for H1N1.

The Novel H1N1 Influenza A virus is similar to the season flu, Keener said.  It is very contagious and spreads from person to person through coughing and sneezing.

The health department recommends the following to prevent the spread of the disease:

• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs easily spread this way.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home from school or work if you are sick.

If you live in Mecklenburg County and have additional questions about the Novel H1N1 Influenza Virus, call CharMeck 311.