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			Friday, May 1, 2009 News Clipping Archives *Maryland / Regional* County reports a fourth possible swine flu case (Arbutus Times) Number of likely Md. swine flu cases rises to 8 (Baltimore Sun) 4 swine flu cases confirmed at University of Delaware (Baltimore Sun) Flu concerns cancel weekend events at Md. school (Associated Press) Westover man charged with adult care center arson (examiner.com) H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine To Arrive By Fall, Earliest (WJZTV-13) State and counties scramble against swine flu (Frederick News-Post) Flu caution, not alarm (Baltimore Sun) 2 swine flu cases found in Virginia (Washington Times) Officials monitor swine flu (Cumberland Times-News) MARYLAND ANNOUNCES TOLL FREE SWINE FLU INFORMATION LINE (Salisbury Daily Times) Maryland Schools Stay Open Through Swine Flu Scare (NewsChannel 8) Six probable cases of swine flu in Md. (Frederick News-Post) *National / International* Officials suspect six cases of swine flu in Maryland (Washington Times) Federal Agent Likely Caught Swine Flu On Trip With Obama (Washington Post) Vaccine promised as U.S. swine flu cases pass 100 (Associated Press) Swine Flu Spreads Across D.C. Region (Washington Post) *Opinion* --- *Maryland / Regional* County reports a fourth possible swine flu case Hotline gets 130 calls in first seven hours Arbutus Times By Bryan P. Sears Friday, May 01, 2009 Nearly 130 calls came in to Baltimore County’s swine flu hotline in its first seven hours, but none has resulted in additional suspected swine flu cases, county Health Officer Gregory Branch said. “None have risen to that level,” Branch said during a Thursday afternoon health department news conference in Towson. Meanwhile, state officials announced at mid-afternoon Thursday that a fourth case of probable swine flu had been diagnosed in the county. County officials opened the hotline Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and again today at 9 a.m. As of noon Thursday, health department workers had taken about 51 calls from doctors and other health-care providers who had concerns about patients. An additional 77 calls were from concerned residents, Branch said. Because symptoms of the swine flu are exactly the same as for seasonal varieties, Branch said, county residents who are concerned they might have the flu should call their doctors or the county hotline before going to a hospital. “We’ll ask them some questions to see how they line up for being at risk for the swine flu,” Branch said. The county and the state are tracking eight probable swine flu cases in Maryland, including four from Baltimore County. Samples from the eight patients were tested by the state and confirmed to be influenza cases - but will require additional testing to determine if they are indeed swine flu cases. Those samples have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. In announcing two new cases Thursday, state officials said one case was a 43-year-old Baltimore County woman, The other new case is from Montgomery County. A Milford Mill Academy student and a member of that student’s family are among the probable cases. Health officials said at least one of the family members recently traveled to Mexico, where the virus originated. Another county resident, identified only as being from northern Baltimore County, recently returned from a trip to an unidentified Caribbean island. Branch said several parents who have children at Milford Mill Academy have called and asked for a “super cleaning” of the school. The virus has an incubation period of 2-7 days. Six days have passed since the student showed symptoms and since then there have been no new cases reported at the school. “There is no indication that a super cleaning is needed at this time,” Branch said. “The current daily cleaning is more than sufficient.” Health officials continue to monitor absences at the school and ask parents to call the school if their child is going to miss school because of sickness. So far, only one absence has been reported and that student clearly did not have the flu, Branch said. Information on the swine flu can be found on the state's Web site or by calling the Baltimore County Health Department Flu Hotline at 410-887-2243. This story has been updated. Web link: http://explorebaltimorecounty.com/news/98774/county-tracking-four-swine-flu-cases/ Copyright 2009 Baltimore Sun. Number of likely Md. swine flu cases rises to 8 Officials identify 2 more probable cases, await confirmation from CDC By Kelly Brewington Baltimore Sun Friday, April 30, 2009 State health officials said Thursday that they had identified two additional probable cases of swine flu in Maryland - bringing the total of probable state cases to eight. One case is of a 53-year-old man from Montgomery County, who had traveled recently to an infected area. He has recovered, was not hospitalized and his family members are healthy, said Frances Phillips, deputy secretary for public health services at the state health department. The other case, a 40-year-old Baltimore County woman, was tested at a hospital when she arrived complaining of flu-like symptoms. She is recovering, Phillips said. Test results of Maryland's probable cases have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. The health department expects confirmation on the cases sometime tomorrow. The new probable cases come on the heels of news Wednesday that six Marylanders -- including two school-aged children -- had been sickened, but none hospitalized. All had links to people who had traveled to Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak. The children attended Folger McKinsey Elementary School in Severna Park and Milford Mill Academy in southwestern Baltimore County. Additionally, the White House said today that a security aide from Anne Arundel County helping with arrangements during President Barack Obama's recent trip to Mexico became sick with flu-like symptoms, and three members of his family later contracted probable swine flu. The disclosure from press secretary Robert Gibbs comes days after the White House played down risks to the U.S. delegation on the two-day trip that started April 16. Gibbs remained steadfast that the president was never at risk of contracting the flu, which has quickly spread across the globe. The employee, who was not named by the White House, is an aide to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and helped plan security for part of the administration's Mexico trip. "This individual never flew on Air Force One," Gibbs said. "He was asked specifically if he ever came within 6 feet of the president, and the answer to that was no." The man visited his brother on April 19 and his nephew became ill. In the next two days, the aide's wife and son also became ill, Gibbs said. Gibbs said the three members of the aide's family are being tested to see if they had the same strain of swine flu that is threatening to become a pandemic. More than 100 cases have been confirmed within the United States. Gibbs said the aide is listed as a suspected case of the virus. He returned to work on Thursday. "The original patient tested negative likely because so much time had elapsed since the onset of his own symptoms that they would not show up in the test," Gibbs said. "All four individuals experienced only mild symptoms, and all four have recovered," he said. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Web link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-swine-flu-maryland-0430,0,3002312,print.story Copyright 2009 Baltimore Sun. 4 swine flu cases confirmed at University of Delaware Associated Press By Brian Witte Baltimore Sun Friday, May 1, 2009 NEWARK, Del. - Public health officials have confirmed four cases of swine flu among University of Delaware students. The state Division of Public Health said it received confirmation Thursday that four of 10 UD students had contracted the disease. Officials say six more probable cases involving UD students were identified Thursday morning, bringing the number of probable cases to 12. Officials said that with confirmation that swine flu is present in the community, routine testing of UD students is no longer required, and that all flu-like symptoms will be treated as potential swine flu. In response, the school announced it had canceled two public events scheduled for Thursday, a talk by journalist Gwen Ifill and a concert by rapper Young Jeezy. At a news conference Wednesday, Gov. Jack Markell and state health officials urged residents not to be anxious after initial reports that some students treated at the university in Newark met the probable definitions of swine flu. Markell noted that the four students initially had "minor symptoms." He said state health officials are closely monitoring hospitals, schools and large businesses. "At this point, I would just say that there is no reason to get particularly anxious," said Dr. James Newman, chief medical officer at Christiana Care Health System. Newman reported no observable increase in respiratory illnesses at Christiana. After preliminary lab tests by the state Division of Public Health could not rule out swine flu, samples taken from the 10 students were forwarded to the Centers for Disease Control for further testing, said DPH spokeswoman Jennifer Wooleyhand. Martin Mbugua, a university spokesman, said he had no details on the student who reportedly traveled to Mexico on spring break. As of Wednesday afternoon, about 350 students had been seen at two clinics on campus University of Delaware President Patrick Harker said the school sees about 170 students on a typical day for a variety of conditions. "While we expect that the numbers will of course be higher, we don't expect they will be higher by order of magnitude," Harker said. Markell said 31 nurses and more than 50 other health professionals were called to help screen students. Students who presented flu-like symptoms were receiving treatment and advised to stay home. The university did not cancel classes, and the Newark campus appeared calm Wednesday morning. "Keeping the university open right now actually makes it easier for us to test and treat students," Harker said. Maciej Klosowski, a freshman from Wilmington, said he received a text message from the university Tuesday night notifying him of the four initial illnesses. "It's not confirmed yet, so I'm not terribly too scared yet, but later on, maybe," he said. At the Student Health Center at Laurel Hall on campus, staff wore masks while screening students. Outside the center, signs on doors directed students concerned about possible symptoms to a separate entrance. Tiffany Brooks, 20, of Dewey Beach, said a group meeting for a school project she was working was called off after two students expressed concern about the flu. "When I was at the dining hall, it seemed like everybody was talking about it," Brooks said. The university alerted 43,547 people Tuesday night by text messages, phone calls and e-mails, said Andrea Boyle, a university spokeswoman. The university has about 20,000 students and 4,000 faculty and staff. Parents of students also were notified. Swine flu is suspected of killing more than 150 people and sickening more than 2,400 in Mexico. U.S. health officials have confirmed at least 91 cases in 10 states. Associated Press Writer Randall Chase in Dover, Del., contributed to this report. Web link: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-swine-flu-delaware-0429,0,5020133,print.story Copyright 2009 Baltimore Sun. Flu concerns cancel weekend events at Md. school By Brian Witte Associated Press Friday, May 1, 2009 ROCKVILLE, Md. - Maryland officials on Friday closed a high school out of concern for swine flu after a disabled student became the ninth person in the state with a probable case of the illness. Dr. Ulder Tillman, Montgomery County's health officer, said extracurricular events associated with Rockville High School also would be called off this weekend, but she said officials were working to find a way to hold SAT testing. "The important message here is that we do need to create what we've been discussing about the social distancing and, until we know further, that's trying to maintain six feet away from someone's coughing or sneezing," Tillman said. The school will need to be closed indefinitely until health officials better understand how the student became sick, Tillman said. The school closing was the strongest measure taken so far in Maryland as a precaution against swine flu. It was the first time a school has been closed in Maryland due to concerns over the virus. Nearly 300 schools have closed in communities across the country. About 75 samples of flu-like illness have been tested this week in Maryland as of Thursday, according to Department of Health & Mental Hygiene spokesman David Paulson. Dr. Fran Phillips, Maryland's deputy health secretary, said the state continues to receive samples from people who could have the illness. She said there were 67 samples to be tested Friday morning. "The numbers are continuing to grow and that's what's being seen around the country," Phillips said. No one has required hospitalization in Maryland from the illness, and none of the cases has been confirmed yet by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State officials believe the first confirmations could come this weekend from Atlanta. The CDC has indicated plans to send kits to state health departments, so state laboratories can conduct the tests on their own to save time. Phillips said Maryland had been expecting to receive the kits on Friday, but they had not arrived yet and it was unclear when they would. Phillips said Maryland was prepared to use the kits as soon as they arrived. Maryland also has created a phone line for concerned residents. The 877-633-5848 number will put someone in touch with a health officer between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekend. Tillman said the fact that the student has special needs "has created some additional concerns in terms of how an infection can be spread to others." Tillman said the student has a sibling who attends another school, and officials are following up on whether that person is ill and could have spread the illness elsewhere. The sick student had not been to Mexico, where more than 3,000 cases have been identified, and neither had a family member. That, Phillips said, demonstrates that the illness is a "community acquired disease now." "This is an evolving phenomenon across the country," Phillips said. Gov. Martin O'Malley, who attended a news conference in Rockville with Tillman, Phillips, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and School Superintendent Jerry Weast, said he is monitoring the flu three times a day in conference calls with medical experts. "We are getting the real word out and the real information out, and we're also making sure that we adapt and change our tactics and our strategies as the detective work progresses and as guidelines from the CDC themselves progress and change," O'Malley said. Associated Press Writer Sarah Brumfield in Baltimore contributed to this report. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Westover man charged with adult care center arson The Associated Press examiner.com Friday, May 01, 2009 MARION, Md. - Maryland Fire Marshals have charged a Westover man with setting an adult day care center in Marion on fire. Authorities say 41-year-old Michael Krome started a fire at the Somerset Community Services Building Tuesday morning. He was arrested Tuesday at his home. Investigators say he's a client at the center but they don't know why he started the fire. There was minimal damage to the building and no one was injured in the fire. In February, Krome was charged with setting the Rosewood Center for people with developmental disabilities in Owings Mills on fire. Authorities also don't have a motive for that fire. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine To Arrive By Fall, Earliest 109 Cases Confirmed In U.S. By Jessica Kartalija WJZTV-13 Friday, May 01, 2009 Washington (CBS) - U.S. authorities are pledging to eventually produce enough H1N1 swine flu vaccine for everyone but the shots couldn't begin until fall at the earliest. Worries about the spread of the virus mounted Thursday as the nation's swine flu caseload passed 140, and nearly 300 schools closed in communities across the country. Federal officials had to spend much of the day reassuring the public it's still safe to fly and ride public transportation after Vice President Joe Biden said he wouldn't recommend it to his family. Scientists were racing to prepare the key ingredient to make a vaccine against the never-before-seen flu strain - if it's ultimately needed. But it will take several months before the first pilot lots begin required human testing to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective. If all goes well, broader production could start in the fall. "We think 600 million doses is achievable in a six-month time frame" from that fall start, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Craig Vanderwagen told lawmakers. "I don't want anybody to have false expectations. The science is challenging here," Vanderwagen told reporters. "Production can be done, robust production capacity is there. It's a question of can we get the science worked on the specifics of this vaccine." Until a vaccine is ready, the government has stockpiled anti-viral medications that can ease flu symptoms or help prevent infection. The medicines are proving effective. Reassurances from top health officials didn't stop the questions from coming. An estimated 12,000 people logged onto a Webcast where the government's top emergency officials sought to cut confusion by answering questions straight from the public: Can a factory worker handling parts from Mexico catch the virus? No. Can pets get it? No. And is washing hands or using those alcohol-based hand gels best? Washing well enough is the real issue, answered Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He keeps hand gel in his pocket for between-washings but also suggested that people sing "Happy Birthday" as they wash their hands to make sure they've washed long enough to get rid of germs. Although it is safe to fly, anyone with flu-like symptoms shouldn't be traveling anywhere, unless they need to seek medical care. People should not be taking anti-viral medications like Tamiflu as a preventive measure, says CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton. "People have to remember, to be clear, this is a prescription medication, that really should be given under the guidance or supervision of a doctor and really is the most effective when you already start to have symptoms if taken in the first 24-48 hours," Ashton told CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric. The swine flu outbreak penetrated over a dozen states and even touched the White House, which disclosed that an aide to Energy Secretary Steven Chu apparently got sick helping arrange President Barack Obama's recent trip to Mexico but that the aide did not fly on Air Force One and never posed a risk to the president. So far U.S. cases are mostly fairly mild with one death, a Mexican toddler who visited Texas with his family - unlike in Mexico where more than 160 suspected deaths have been reported. Most of the U.S. cases so far haven't needed a doctor's care, officials said. Still, the U.S. is taking extraordinary precautions - including shipping millions of doses of anti-flu drugs to states in case they're needed. The World Health Organization is warning of an imminent pandemic because scientists cannot predict what a brand-new virus might do. A key concern is whether this spring outbreak will resurge in the fall. The CDC confirmed 109 cases Thursday, and state officials confirm 22 more. Cases now are confirmed in New York, Texas, California, South Carolina, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Maine, Colorado, Georgia and Minnesota. © 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. State and counties scramble against swine flu Rockville High closed Friday; governor forms advisory board By Marcus Moore, Douglas Tallman and Margie Hyslop Frederick News-Post Friday, May 1, 2009 Now that swine flu has turned up in Maryland, health officials throughout the state are taking extra steps to try to limit the spread of the viral illness before it becomes a pandemic. A number of counties have set up hot lines to answer residents' questions about swine flu, and officials are closely monitoring the situation. The measures are being taken as the state awaits definitive test results on eight suspected cases of the illness - four in Baltimore County, three in Anne Arundel and one in Montgomery County. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 109 cases of swine flu as of Thursday evening. The 1,200-student Rockville High School was closed Friday after a student came down with what could be swine flu. Hand-lettered "School closed" signs taped to the doors of the Baltimore Road school greeted those who had not received word of the closing, which was recommended late Thursday by health officials. Also Thursday, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) announced formation of an advisory board to assist him and the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on the possible swine flu cases in Maryland. "The members of this advisory board represent some of the best minds in medicine, infectious disease and pediatrics and have already provided invaluable advice and guidance," O'Malley said in a statement. "We fully expect to see more cases of swine flu in Maryland and will continue to provide the public with the latest information possible." In the Baltimore County cases, two of those ill are members of the same family; one recently traveled to an affected area - possibly Mexico, health officials said. A third Baltimore County case also involved a person who recently went to an affected area, officials said. The fourth case was a woman who presented with flu symptoms. The Montgomery County case, announced on Thursday, involves a 53-year-old World Bank employee who had traveled to Mexico on business, according to county officials. He now is home and recovered, but his wife, a Montgomery County teacher, and two children have been asked to stay home from school. School officials notified parents at the affected schools - Takoma Park Elementary, Westland Middle and Einstein High schools - about the situation. They remain open. In the Anne Arundel cases, a family member of two people who got sick recently returned from an affected area, health officials said. Two of the cases involve students. One attends Folger McKinsey Elementary School in Anne Arundel County and the other attends Milford Mill Academy in Baltimore County. In an April 29 letter to parents, Anne Arundel schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell wrote that the Folger school would remain open and would be thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant. He said parents should keep sick children at home. Also in a letter to parents, Milford Mill Principal Nathaniel Gibson asked parents to call the school if their child is home sick with flu-like symptoms. Officials at both schools are working with their counties' respective health departments to monitor unusual absences. None of the patients has been hospitalized. The cases have been sent to the CDC for testing, and state officials were awaiting the results Thursday. Citing confidentiality, health officials declined to release the names of those infected. "This development is what we have expected and prepared for" since news of the swine flu broke last week, John M. Colmers, secretary of the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said in a statement. "We are working together with local health officials and health care providers in every corner of the state to detect and respond rapidly to this serious health care concern." In Baltimore County, officials have coordinated with health care providers on swine flu testing and created an agency hot line to answer residents' questions, said Monique L. Lyle, a spokeswoman for the county health department. "The main thing that we're doing, that we'll continue doing, is our surveillance" of the swine flu spread, Lyle said. Anne Arundel health officials have sent out brochures in Spanish to more than 25 churches in the county, said Ellen Jones, a spokeswoman with the county's health department. Anne Arundel also has set up a general information hot line for residents with concerns about swine flu. So far, the county health department has not received many calls, Jones said. "The most important thing at this point is public information," she said. In other counties in Maryland, various steps are being taken. In Montgomery County, officials set up an 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. weekday hot line for as long as it is needed. "We're actively talking and working throughout the area," said Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Mary Anderson. Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson held a press conference Thursday afternoon to disseminate the latest flu information from the CDC and the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The county also is distributing a flu fact sheet to residents and has a link to the CDC's swine flu site on its health department Web page. County health officials also have posted a flu prevention video on their Web site. Carroll County has established its own flu hot line to answer residents' questions and has posted under the county news tab on the county Web site a message about the importance of washing hands as a preventive measure. Meanwhile, the state is monitoring hospital emergency rooms and doctors' offices to see if people are coming in with symptoms, which include a fever greater than 100 degrees, sore throat, difficulty breathing, confusion, an inability to eat or drink, and a bluish tinge to the skin, said Fran Phillips, deputy secretary of public health with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. People should contact their doctor or visit an emergency room, she said. The state also is using "nontraditional" ways of conducting medical surveillance. For example, several hundred pharmacies have their inventories plugged into a network of computers. State health officials can get a daily report on sales of over-the-counter medications, which might show an increase in respiratory illness, Phillips said. Maryland has a stockpile of 276,000 doses of Tamiflu, one of four known antiviral medications that is effective against swine flu, said David Paulson, a spokesman for the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The federal government also plans to release its stockpile of Tamiflu, should it be necessary, he said, and that would mean 200,000 additional doses. Staff Writer Janel Davis contributed to this report. -Go to www.cdc.gov/swineflu/index.htm for the most recent information on swine flu -For information specific to Maryland, go to: www.swineflu.maryland.gov Copyright 2009 Frederick News-Post. Flu caution, not alarm At Folger McKinsey Elementary, it's all about hand washing, sanitizing By Julie Scharper Baltimore Sun Friday, May 1, 2009 Children poured out of the doors of Folger McKinsey Elementary School, eagerly presenting their mothers paintings and paper birds that they had made. But some of the children were showing off another item they had collected during the day - bottles of hand sanitizer. Dismissal time at the Severna Park elementary school, where one pupil was identified as likely having swine flu, was subdued Thursday afternoon because nearly half the students did not come to school. But parents who were picking up their children said that they were not very worried, even as the White House announced that an Anne Arundel County man who recently traveled to Mexico in advance of President Barack Obama also probably has swine flu, as do three members of his family. "We told them to wash their hands often, and if there was a child coughing or sneezing to stay away," said Alix Bray, who was picking up her three children from school. "We weren't worried because the school had educated the parents enough about what is going on." John M. Colmers, state health secretary, said that as of Thursday, there were no plans to close schools. The department is in constant contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about its recommendations on school closings, he said. The CDC "strongly considers" closing a school for seven days after a confirmed case has been found, he said. "We are continuing to monitor the situation," Colmers said. An aide who traveled to Mexico City on April 13 to plan for security during the president's visit came down with flulike symptoms after returning, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday. The man's wife, young son and nephew developed similar symptoms and are believed to have contracted the virus from him, Gibbs said. The man is the father of the Folger McKinsey pupil who was infected, and he was present at a museum April 16 with Obama and Felipe Solis, a Mexican official who died April 23, according to news reports. The four members of the family had mild symptoms, were not hospitalized and have recovered, Gibbs said. The man, who was not identified, is an aide to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and has returned to work. The man did not have any close contact with the president and did not fly on Air Force One, Gibbs said. Health officials are expected to determine Friday whether the three Anne Arundel residents believed to have swine flu have indeed contracted the virus, county health department spokeswoman Elin Jones said. Cleaning crews sanitized the elementary school with strong disinfectants used to kill staph infections after school Wednesday and Thursday, said Bob Mosier, Anne Arundel schools spokesman. "They cleaned every desk, every chair, every surface," he said, adding that the buses were sanitized after dropping off students at the school in the morning. Students said that their teachers encouraged them to clean their hands throughout the day. "Our teacher had a row of soaps and hand sanitizers," said fourth-grader Coleman Bray. "We put a lot of hand sanitizer on." About 45 percent of Folger McKinsey students did not attend school Thursday, but they would not be penalized and would be able to make up their work, Mosier said. At Milford Mill Academy in southwest Baltimore County, where another student has probable swine flu, attendance on Thursday was about 68 percent, down from the usual 85 percent, said Charles A. Herndon, a school system spokesman. Principal Nathaniel Gibson fielded a number of calls throughout the day from parents wondering whether they should keep their kids home, Herndon said. "This is a very fluid situation, and we're in constant contact with the state and the county health department, and continue to take our lead from them and take counsel from them as well," Herndon said. School systems sent out letters to parents this week giving them common-sense tips for avoiding contagious diseases, such as washing hands frequently, but there didn't appear to be any panic on the part of parents or students. At Severna Park High School, Principal Patrick Bathras said he had received a few e-mails and phone calls from parents checking to make sure there were no cases at their school. Otherwise, he said, "Today's school day was business as usual." Quiana Ojo, the nurse at Baltimore's Barclay Elementary School, said she did get a call from a parent who was going to keep her children home until the nurse explained what precautions - such as extra hand washing - would be taken to keep her children safe. She is advising teachers to wipe down desks, particularly of the youngest children, during the day while they are at lunch and at the end of the day. Baltimore Sun reporters Arin Gencer, Liz Bowie and Paul West contributed to this article. Copyright © 2009, The Baltimore Sun. 2 swine flu cases found in Virginia By Michael Drost Washington Times Friday, May 1, 2009 Virginia health officials on Thursday confirmed two cases of swine flu in the state, the first cases of the virus in the region. The confirmed cases were announced as Maryland health officials reported two new probable cases, bringing the state's total to eight - a figure that includes three family members of an Obama administration aide. The White House said Thursday that a Maryland man who works for the administration is suspected of contracting swine flu during a stay in Mexico in advance of President Obama's brief trip there earlier last month. Health officials think the man passed the virus to three of his family members in Anne Arundel County. The White House said the man has since made a full recovery. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs did not identify the man but said that he began to feel ill on April 16 and had a fever on April 17, the day the president arrived in Mexico. The man returned to the United States April 18. He visited his brother on April 19 and his nephew became ill, and within the next two days the man's wife and son also fell ill. The Virginia Department of Health said the two patients diagnosed with swine flu in the state are a man from eastern Virginia and a woman from central Virginia. State Health Commissioner Karen Remley said each had traveled to Mexico, both had mild illnesses and are recovering well, and neither required hospitalization. Neither patient is a student, she said. In addition, about 80 employees of the World Bank in the District were asked to work from home Thursday after an employee who lives in Maryland was preliminarily diagnosed with the virus. The man was one of two suspected cases reported in the state Thursday. Frances B. Phillips, Maryland's deputy secretary for health and mental hygiene, said the two new cases involve a 53-year-old man in Montgomery County and a 40-year-old woman in Baltimore County. She said both patients are thought to have contracted the virus during recent travels outside the United States. Neither patient was hospitalized, and the Montgomery County man is thought to have made a full recovery, state officials said. The Montgomery County man is the parent of two public school students, and his wife is a public school teacher. School administrators informed the parents of students at schools that might have come into contact with the family members - Albert Einstein High School in Kensington, Westland Middle School in Bethesda and Takoma Park Elementary School - about the situation via phone message on Thursday morning. The man's wife and children were advised to remain at home for the next few days as a precaution. None have shown any flu-like symptoms, health officials say. The two new suspected cases will be added to three suspected cases in Baltimore County and three other suspected cases in Anne Arundel County, which include two school-aged children. One student attends Folger McKinsey Elementary School in Severna Park and the other goes to Milford Mill Academy in Baltimore County. There are no plans to close the two schools. Health officials said test results to determine whether the cases are swine flu are not expected before Friday. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said that the uptick in suspected cases was not a surprise. "As we announced earlier this week, the rise in probable swine flu cases was not unexpected," he said. "We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops." Swine flu, named H1N1 by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has spread quickly across the country and around the globe, and is thought to be responsible for the deaths of more than 150 people in Mexico, where the outbreak reportedly started. At least 109 cases have been confirmed nationwide in 16 states. John M. Colmers, state secretary of health and mental hygiene, defended the state's preparedness to combat the outbreak after a December report that ranked Maryland last in the country in its readiness to deal with a health emergency. Mr. Colmers said sometimes the data for such reports are based on incomplete or false information. "You have to really look behind the numbers with these things. We feel very confident that we are prepared and we are doing the best that we can to protect the population of Maryland," he said. Copyright 2009 Washington Times. Officials monitor swine flu By Kevin Spradlin Cumberland Times-News Friday, May 1, 2009 CUMBERLAND - No one in Allegany County has been known to have contracted the H1N1 virus referred to as swine flu, said Dr. Sue Raver, Allegany County health officer. And chances are that if one contracts the virus and recovers, that person wouldn’t be able to get it again. “You usually develop protection” naturally after such a sickness, Raver said while giving the Allegany County commissioners an update on the near-pandemic swine flu illness. She spoke during a presentation at the commission meeting Thursday at the County Office Complex. Also in attendance were Steve Kesner, chief of emergency medical services; Dick DeVore, chief of the emergency management division; and Susan Lee, emergency management coordinator. Raver said the Allegany County Health Department and Western Maryland Health System officials have activated a command center “that functions on a daily basis.” Staffers consult via teleconference with state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene officials each morning. Those meetings are not open to the media, Raver said. Local officials are reacting to the situation in a similar fashion as they did to the anthrax scare in 2001, Raver said. To date, the primary goal has been to increase awareness about the virus, urging physicians to send samples of suspected swine flu cases for testing and alerting local health clinics, doctors offices, nursing homes and schools on proper ways to keep from contracting the virus. Raver said health officials are keeping an eye on employee and student absenteeism rates. Residents are being directed to the health department’s Web site - www.alleganyhealthdept.com - which has direct links to updated federal and state information. Reports of possible and confirmed swine flu cases are coming out by the minute, Raver said. “We’re learning more as we go along. Information is coming out rapidly.” Raver said Thursday morning that Allegany County already has its share of anti-viral medication that it reserved last year. However, that is meant for treatment purposes, she said, and would be released only with permission by Gov. Martin O’Malley or DHMH Secretary John Colmers. Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com. Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc. MARYLAND ANNOUNCES TOLL FREE SWINE FLU INFORMATION LINE Salisbury Daily Times Residents can call 1-877-MDFLU4U (633-5848) Seven days a week ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 1, 2009) - Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) announced today that 1-877-MDFLU4U (633-5848) has been activated as a statewide toll free information line to answers questions residents may have about the swine flu outbreak. The service will operate between the hours of 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday - Friday and 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. In addition, DHMH will accept swine flu questions by email at swineflu@dhmh.state.md.us. “It is of paramount importance to ensure information is available in as many ways as possible,” Governor O’Malley said. “This information line - 1-877-MDFLU4U (633-5848) - and the email option are more tools to help answer questions our residents may have about this new flu. Information remains available on the Internet at www.maryland.gov.” As with any other seasonal flu, DHMH officials remind Marylanders to use common sense precautions to avoid becoming ill or spreading an illness to others. Basic hygiene is the best tool to help prevent a swine flu illness. Individuals should frequently wash their hands and cover their mouths when coughing. “Maryland residents will ask more and more questions as this outbreak moves forward and additional cases are identified,” DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers said. “This phone line and mailbox are additional resources to assist those who need answers.” DHMH officials have identified eight probable cases of swine flu in Maryland. They are from Anne Arundel County (three), Baltimore County (four) and Montgomery County (one.) All patients are recovering from their illness and none have been hospitalized. Due to confidentiality considerations, no further information about the patients will be released. In addition to the 1-877-MDFLU4U (633-5848) information line, people can log on to www.maryland.gov for swine flu-related information. Posted By Mardela Copyright 2009 Salisbury Daily Times. Maryland Schools Stay Open Through Swine Flu Scare NewsChannel 8 Friday, May 1, 2009 Many parents of students at two Maryland schools are keeping their kids home Thursday, after the announcement that students at those schools have been preliminarily diagnosed with swine flu. Matt Myers is among the parents who decided their children would be in class this morning. He says his girls wanted it that way. "Our kids have perfect attendance. They have pride in going to this school." "They're not scared," added Myers. "They don't watch the news and don't see the epidemic. What they're talking about is actually, 'can I come to school Mom and Dad?'" But it's clear some parents at Folger McKinsey Elementary made a different decision once a letter was sent home reporting a possible case of swine flu in the school. The letter says a Folger student spent most of the illness at home, but indicates he or she may have attended classes sick. Sources say before news that a student probably had the virus, 97 percent of the elementary school children were in class. On Thursday, the number dropped to 60 percent -- meaning four in 10 desks were empty. Nicholas Horgan and his little brother spent the day playing parent-induced hooky. "My parents don't want us to go because of the swine flu," he said. Even though Michelle Horgan opted to keep her boys home Thursday, she says she may reconsider tomorrow with the hope that the virus will be gone. "It was one student -- contained to one family. I really think the school made the right decision," she said. There is some ambiguity about just how long someone is contagious and how long it takes to show symptoms, so just in case, the school system sent in a cleanup crew overnight to disinfect the building in time for morning classes. Widespread precautionary absences among students could pose another problem. The attendance rolls are often a barometer to show just how much an illness is spreading, but in this case it may only be a measure of how frightened are about their children's safety. State officials should get test results back Thursday on six people suspected of having the virus, including those two students. President Obama suggested Wednesday morning that "schools with confirmed or suspected cases should strongly consider temporarily closing so we can be as safe as possible." But Folger is keeping its doors open. Milfred Mill Academy in Baltimore County will also be holding classes as usual today, though a teen student there is also believed to have contracted the disease. John Colmers of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene believes that the infected students should not pose a danger to their classmates. School officials say that enough time has passed since the student was last in class, a week ago Thursday, that the danger should be past. And Kevin Maxwell, Superintendent of Anne Arundel County Schools, said, "We've been in constant consultation with state and county health departments and the state and county governments and they say they believe in their expert medical opinion it safe to open the school today." Sources say a World Bank employee suspected of contracting the virus while in Mexico has a wife who teaches at Takoma Park Elementary School and children who attend Westland Middle School in Bethesda and Einstein High School in Kensington. While they are not showing symptoms, the man's wife and children have been asked to stay home for the next few days. Meanwhile, Baltimore County health officials are opening an emergency hotline to answer county residents' questions about swine flu. The public health emergency hotline will be available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday. Officials have not determined when the hotline will operate in the future. County residents with questions about swine flu can call the hotline at 410-887-BCHD (2243). And while there have been no confirmed cases of the swine flu in Virginia, the commonwealth is setting up a call center to field questions from concerned residents. Department of Health workers are taking calls until 4:30 this afternoon, and again tomorrow. The hotline number is 1-877-ASK-VDH3 (1-877-275-8343). © 2009 NewsChannel 8, a division of Allbritton Communications Company All rights reserved. Six probable cases of swine flu in Md. By Ashley Andyshak Frederick News-Post Friday, May 01, 2009 Six probable cases of swine flu were reported Tuesday in the Baltimore area, Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Wednesday. Three of the probable cases are in Anne Arundel County, and three are in Baltimore County. At least five of the affected people had recently returned from travel to an area affected by swine flu, or had contact with a family member who had recently returned from such an area. All six people are recovering and none has been hospitalized, O'Malley said. Samples have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. Karen Black, director of media relations for the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said the state has ample supplies of antiviral drugs. The state's inventory includes more than 400,000 courses of antivirals available for distribution, she said, and more are available from the U.S. stockpile. The CDC has confirmed 91 cases of swine flu and one death from the virus in the U.S. Officials said people should continue to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and wash their hands frequently to prevent the spread of the flu. Please send comments to webmaster or contact us at 301-662-1177. Copyright 1997-09 Randall Family, LLC. All rights reserved. *National / International* Officials suspect six cases of swine flu in Maryland By Christina Bellantoni and Joseph Weber Washington Times Wednesday, April 29, 2009 BREAKING NEWS: Maryland health officials have announced six probable cases of swine flu in the state, including two children. John Colmers, state secretary of health and mental hygiene, said that a family of three in Anne Arundel County may have developed the disease after being in contact with another uninfected family member who recently traveled to Mexico. Another three suspected cases have been reported in Baltimore County, including two family members and another unrelated case. Mr. Colmers said one of the children with the flu goes to Milford Mill Academy in Baltimore County, while the other goes to Folger McKinsey Elementary School in Anne Arundel County. Gov. Martin O'Malley said that there are currently no plans to close the schools where the two suspected children attend. The spread of the virus in the United States and the first death in the country attributed to the swine flu prompted President Obama to urge school officials with confirmed or suspected H1N1 cases to "strongly consider temporarily closing so we can be as safe as possible." The toddler who died of the infection came from Mexico and was visiting family in Texas, a Houston health official said Wednesday morning. Dr. David E. Persse, Houston's EMS physician director, said the 23-month-old and his family arrived in the United States on April 4 by taking a commercial flight from Mexico City to Matamoros and then crossing the border into Brownsville. Dr. Persse said the boy then "rapidly" became ill, was admitted to a Brownsville hospital and transferred April 14 to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston before dying Monday night. Officials also said the boy had underlying health problems and did not contract the illness in Houston. The University Interscholastic League has suspended athletic activity throughout Texas until May 11. Mr. Obama also said local and school officials should stay "vigilant" by identifying suspected cases and reporting them quickly. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, speaking at a Wednesday morning news conference during her first full day on the job, said that while it's difficult to predict what the virus will do next, "we expect to see more cases, more hospitalizations, and unfortunately we're likely to see additional deaths from the outbreak." Mrs. Sebelius said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified "virus reference strains" of the flu and are working on a vaccine. "We've begun the process, we're in full gear, and the process is more speedy than it's ever been," she said. The number of confirmed cases Wednesday in the United States increased to 91 in 10 states, up from 64 in five states Tuesday, said Dr. Richard E. Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York has 51 confirmed cases, Texas has 16, California has 14, Massachusetts has 2, Michigan has two, Arizona has one, Nevada has one, Indiana has one, Kansas has two and Ohio has one. Dr. Besser said the death has not changed the agency's recommendations to prevent the virus, including keeping sick children home from school. He also repeated that deaths were anticipated as the virus reaches its peak. "As I've been saying for the past several days, we have expected that we would see more severe [illnesses] and that we would see deaths," Dr. Besser said. Mr. Obama said parents should think about "contingencies" if schools close because sending a sick child to a day-care center is "not a solution." "This is obviously a serious situation, serious enough to take the utmost precautions," the president said. Mr. Obama said local officials should identify suspected cases and report them quickly, adding, "Schools with confirmed or suspected cases should strongly consider temporarily closing so we can be as safe as possible." "Every American should know the federal government is prepared to do whatever is necessary to control this virus," he said. Mr. Obama asked Americans to be careful and take "the same steps you would take to prevent any other flu," such as washing hands, covering a cough and staying home when sick. He added, "My thoughts and prayers and deepest condolences go out to the family and those who are sick or recovering from the illness." Mexico's health minister said more than 2,500 residents are sick with virus, discovered first in Mexico in early April. The World Health Organization reports roughly 112 cases worldwide, including the 64 in the United States, 26 in Mexico, six in Canada, three in New Zealand, two in Spain, two in the United Kingdom and two in Israel. Costa Rican health officials have confirmed one case, and New Zealand health officials have confirmed 11 additional cases. In the United States, Indiana is reporting at least one case not confirmed by the CDC. Meanwhile, a key World Health Organization official said the agency is considering raising the global threat level for the second time in two days, a reflection of the human-to-human transmission that epidemiologists have feared. "It's clear that the virus is spreading, and we don't see any evidence of this slowing down at this point," said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO's assistant director-general. He said a formal analysis of lab results and reports from WHO field representatives suggest that they are seeing person-to-person transmission in a number of places. The Geneva-based organization has been conservative in its estimates, counting only those infections verified in a handful of laboratories. Dr. Fukuda acknowledged that the current numbers are low but likely will rise as more confirmations are received. In Mexico, WHO counts only 26 flu infections, roughly one-seventh of the government's total. "We are moving closer to [security level] Phase 5, but I don't think we are there yet," Dr. Fukuda told reporters via a conference call on Wednesday. Level 5 is considered the most dangerous of epidemics and is invoked only when there is sustained transmission between humans and widespread infection in at least two different places. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a flu-related state of emergency on Monday. Dr. Fukuda said authorities still do not know exactly how the virus began to infect human beings, nor do they know exactly how the virus spreads. He said it is still unclear why the Mexican strain of the H1N1 virus is so much more deadly than the generally weaker influenza seen in the United States and other countries. • Michael Drost, Sean Lengell and Betsy Pisik contributed to this article. Copyright 2009 Washington Times. Federal Agent Likely Caught Swine Flu On Trip With Obama Md. Man Infects 3; Va. Confirms 2 Cases By William Wan, Ashley Halsey III and Michael D. Shear Washington Post Friday, May 1, 2009 A federal agent who traveled to Mexico with President Obama this month probably contracted swine flu and infected several members of his family in Anne Arundel County, prompting assurances yesterday from the White House that the president was safe. The agent's family members are among the eight probable cases authorities have identified in Maryland, including two announced yesterday. One of those was a Montgomery County man who works at the World Bank and had recently traveled to Mexico. Last night, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) announced that Virginia had its first two confirmed cases as the virus spread through the Washington region. Marc S. Griswold, a former Secret Service agent who was serving as the lead advance special agent for Energy Secretary Steven Chu on the mid-April trip, said in an interview that the minor cough he developed in Mexico grew into swine flu. Although he has recovered and is back to work, he and his family have watched in shock as his illness has sparked national security concerns, severely strained his relationship with his brother and put his family at the center of rumors and panic in his Severna Park neighborhood. Over the past two days, his daughter, who was not infected, has endured stares and mean jokes as rumors spread through her school about her family's role in some of the first swine flu cases in the region, Griswold said. Griswold probably infected his nephew, and now the parents, close friends, refuse to talk to him. "We're not the Typhoid Mary family, for goodness' sake," Griswold said in frustration on the front steps of his house. "We've been told we're not contagious. We're already past the seven-day mark for that." At the White House, press secretary Robert Gibbs did not identify Griswold by name but said officials asked the infected agent whether he remembers coming within six feet of the president during the trip. The answer was no, Gibbs told reporters. Obama's doctor, David Martin, issued a letter to more than 100 White House staffers and reporters, alerting them that they had been exposed but expressing confidence that further infections were unlikely. "The president, as I've said here many times, has not experienced any symptoms, and the doctors see no need to conduct any tests," Gibbs said. In addition to the Montgomery case announced yesterday, authorities said a second person from Baltimore County had probably been infected. The two new cases have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for confirmation. The World Bank employee, from Montgomery, had traveled to Mexico for business from April 13 through 18, bank officials said. He sought treatment from his doctor but because his travel occurred before the epidemic was announced by Mexican health authorities and the World Health Organization, he spent time in the office April 20. The man has recovered, but bank officials said they have asked staff members who were in close contact with him to work from home until receiving guidance from D.C. health officials. Delaware health officials said yesterday that the CDC confirmed that four students at the University of Delaware thought to have the virus have tested positive. Six other probable cases involving students at the university are undergoing analysis. The Virginia cases were in Chesterfield and the Northern Neck. State officials said a man and a woman had traveled separately to Mexico and contracted the virus. They were hospitalized and have recovered. There have been no reported cases in the District. Griswold said yesterday that his symptoms started innocuously, with a minor cough that began soon after his trip to Mexico as part of the president's entourage. Obama and Chu, accompanied by Griswold, were part of a "working dinner" in Mexico on April 16. Griswold returned from Mexico on April 18, officials said, on United Flight 822 to Dulles International Airport. When he got home, he chalked up the cough to Mexico's severe pollution and thought nothing of it the night after his return when he brought a present from Mexico to his brother's house and stayed for dinner. Griswold's wife, Alison, a registered nurse, was the first to notice something wrong in the family. When she checked on her 7-year-old son at school April 21, something about him seemed off. He said he felt fine and he looked all right, Alison Griswold said. But the school nurse said he had a low fever, so Alison took him home and kept him there for two days until he recovered. Then she started getting sick: a cough, a high fever and chills. Last Friday, Griswold and his wife went to a doctor, who wasn't overly concerned. On Sunday, they saw another doctor, who gave them a flu test that came back negative. On Tuesday, on advice from health officials, the couple and their youngest child got the more thorough nasal swab test. The results came in Wednesday morning: positive for Type A influenza, probably the swine flu. After the initial shock came dread. Like everyone else, they had been watching the news and had seen reports of panic and fear in Mexico and in the United States. As reports of their test results reached the White House, officials began piecing together Griswold's brief connection to Obama. Aides began calling people who had traveled with the president and informed the president yesterday morning. The White House press office began preparing to make a dramatic reversal. For days, Gibbs had insisted there had been no real danger of infection during Obama's Mexico visit. On Monday, Gibbs shot down repeated questions about health concerns, saying Obama "has not exhibited any symptoms; neither has anybody traveling with him." Meanwhile, at home, Griswold and his wife tried to help their children get back into school. It was only at the advice of health officials that they kept their two unaffected children at school and sent the sick one back Wednesday, they said. Yesterday morning, knowing a maelstrom of news crews and worried parents was probably awaiting them at Folger McKinsey Elementary, Alison Griswold gave her three children a short pep talk on the drive to school. "We've got nothing to be ashamed of," she told them. "We didn't get anyone else at school sick. We handled it just like they told us to." And Griswold has tried to reach out to his brother's family. His wife and their 7-year-old son made up two of the first three probable cases in Anne Arundel County, and Griswold's 2-year-old nephew tested positive as the third. (Because of pending test results, Griswold himself is listed as a suspected case.) His brother's wife called them, clearly angry about her son's infection. Griswold tried and is still trying to apologize to them and explain how it happened. "It's my nephew and godson. I love him dearly," he said. "I would never intentionally expose him to something like that. It's an unfortunate part of this line of work I'm in, but even then, I mean, no one knew when we were down there that this could happen." Beside him, his wife coughed briefly. "It's the pollen. That's why I'm coughing," she said quickly. "Don't worry." Staff writers Lori Aratani, Anita Kumar, Nikita Stewart, Michael Ruane and Dan DeVise and staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report. Web link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/30/AR2009043001836_pf.html Copyright 2009 Washington Post. Vaccine promised as U.S. swine flu cases pass 100 By Lauran Neergaard Associated Press Friday, May 01, 2009 WASHINGTON - U.S. authorities are pledging to eventually produce enough swine flu vaccine for everyone but the shots couldn't begin until fall at the earliest. Worries about the spread of the virus mounted Thursday as the nation's swine flu caseload passed 100, and nearly 300 schools closed in communities across the country. Federal officials had to spend much of the day reassuring the public it's still safe to fly and ride public transportation after Vice President Joe Biden said he wouldn't recommend it to his family. Scientists were racing to prepare the key ingredient to make a vaccine against the never-before-seen flu strain - if it's ultimately needed. But it will take several months before the first pilot lots begin required human testing to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective. If all goes well, broader production could start in the fall. "We think 600 million doses is achievable in a six-month time frame" from that fall start, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Craig Vanderwagen told lawmakers. "I don't want anybody to have false expectations. The science is challenging here," Vanderwagen told reporters. "Production can be done, robust production capacity is there. It's a question of can we get the science worked on the specifics of this vaccine." Until a vaccine is ready, the government has stockpiled anti-viral medications that can ease flu symptoms or help prevent infection. The medicines are proving effective. Reassurances from top health officials didn't stop the questions from coming. An estimated 12,000 people logged onto a Webcast where the government's top emergency officials sought to cut confusion by answering questions straight from the public: Can a factory worker handling parts from Mexico catch the virus? No. Can pets get it? No. And is washing hands or using those alcohol-based hand gels best? Washing well enough is the real issue, answered Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He keeps hand gel in his pocket for between-washings but also suggested that people sing "Happy Birthday" as they wash their hands to make sure they've washed long enough to get rid of germs. Although it is safe to fly, anyone with flu-like symptoms shouldn't be traveling anywhere, unless they need to seek medical care. The swine flu outbreak penetrated over a dozen states and even touched the White House, which disclosed that an aide to Energy Secretary Steven Chu apparently got sick helping arrange President Barack Obama's recent trip to Mexico but that the aide did not fly on Air Force One and never posed a risk to the president. So far U.S. cases are mostly fairly mild with one death, a Mexican toddler who visited Texas with his family - unlike in Mexico where more than 160 suspected deaths have been reported. Most of the U.S. cases so far haven't needed a doctor's care, officials said. Still, the U.S. is taking extraordinary precautions - including shipping millions of doses of anti-flu drugs to states in case they're needed. The World Health Organization is warning of an imminent pandemic because scientists cannot predict what a brand-new virus might do. A key concern is whether this spring outbreak will resurge in the fall. The CDC confirmed 109 cases Thursday, and state officials confirm 22 more. Cases now are confirmed in New York, Texas, California, South Carolina, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Maine, Colorado, Georgia and Minnesota. On the Net: Health and Human Services Department swine flu site: http://www.pandemicflu.gov Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Swine Flu Spreads Across D.C. Region Md. School Closes; Va. Confirms 2 Cases By William Wan, Ashley Halsey III and Michael D. Shear Washington Post Friday, May 1, 2009 A federal agent who traveled to Mexico with President Obama this month probably contracted swine flu and infected several members of his family in Anne Arundel County, prompting assurances yesterday from the White House that the president was safe. The agent's family members are among the nine probable cases authorities have identified in Maryland, including two announced yesterday. One of those was a Montgomery County man who works at the World Bank and had recently traveled to Mexico. Last night, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) announced that Virginia had its first two confirmed cases as the virus spread through the Washington region, and Montgomery school officials announced that Rockville High School would be closed today after authorities reported a probable case involving a student. Marc S. Griswold, a former Secret Service agent who was serving as the lead advance special agent for Energy Secretary Steven Chu on the mid-April trip, said in an interview that the minor cough he developed in Mexico grew into swine flu. Although he has recovered and is back to work, he and his family have watched in shock as his illness has sparked national security concerns, severely strained his relationship with his brother and put his family at the center of rumors and panic in his Severna Park neighborhood. Over the past two days, his daughter, who was not infected, has endured stares and mean jokes as rumors spread through her school about her family's role in some of the first swine flu cases in the region, Griswold said. Griswold probably infected his nephew, and now the parents, close friends, refuse to talk to him. "We're not the Typhoid Mary family, for goodness' sake," Griswold said in frustration on the front steps of his house. "We've been told we're not contagious. We're already past the seven-day mark for that." At the White House, press secretary Robert Gibbs did not identify Griswold by name but said officials asked the infected agent whether he remembers coming within six feet of the president during the trip. The answer was no, Gibbs told reporters. Obama's doctor, David Martin, issued a letter to more than 100 White House staffers and reporters, alerting them that they had been exposed but expressing confidence that further infections were unlikely. "The president, as I've said here many times, has not experienced any symptoms, and the doctors see no need to conduct any tests," Gibbs said. In addition to the Montgomery cases announced yesterday, authorities said a second person from Baltimore County had probably been infected. The new cases have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for confirmation. School officials in Rockville were alerted to a student illness at about 6:30 Thursday night. After consulting with the CDC and state health officials, they decided to close the school as a precaution. They said the student was last in school on Monday, but provided little other information. The World Bank employee, also from Montgomery, had traveled to Mexico for business from April 13 through 18, bank officials said. He sought treatment from his doctor but because his travel occurred before the epidemic was announced by Mexican health authorities and the World Health Organization, he spent time in the office April 20. The man has recovered, but bank officials said they have asked staff members who were in close contact with him to work from home until receiving guidance from D.C. health officials. The Virginia cases were in Chesterfield and the Northern Neck. State officials said a man and a woman had traveled separately to Mexico and contracted the virus. They were hospitalized and have recovered. There have been no reported cases in the District. Griswold said yesterday that his symptoms started innocuously, with a minor cough that began soon after his trip to Mexico as part of the president's entourage. Obama and Chu, accompanied by Griswold, were part of a "working dinner" in Mexico on April 16. Griswold returned from Mexico on April 18, officials said, on United Flight 822 to Dulles International Airport. When he got home, he chalked up the cough to Mexico's pollution and thought nothing of it the night after his return when he brought a present from Mexico to his brother's house and stayed for dinner. Griswold's wife, Alison, a registered nurse, was the first to notice something wrong in the family. When she checked on her 7-year-old son at school April 21, something about him seemed off. He said he felt fine and he looked all right, Alison Griswold said. But the school nurse said he had a low fever, so Alison took him home and kept him there for two days until he recovered. Then she started getting sick: a cough, a high fever and chills. Last Friday, Griswold and his wife went to a doctor, who wasn't overly concerned. On Sunday, they saw another doctor, who gave them a flu test that came back negative. On Tuesday, on advice from health officials, the couple and their youngest child got the more thorough nasal swab test. The results came in Wednesday morning: positive for Type A influenza, probably the swine flu. After the initial shock came dread. Like everyone else, they had been watching the news and had seen reports of panic and fear in Mexico and in the United States. As reports of their test results reached the White House, officials began piecing together Griswold's brief connection to Obama. Aides began calling people who had traveled with the president and informed the president yesterday morning. The White House press office began preparing to make a dramatic reversal. For days, Gibbs had insisted there had been no real danger of infection during Obama's Mexico visit. On Monday, Gibbs shot down repeated questions about health concerns, saying Obama "has not exhibited any symptoms; neither has anybody traveling with him." Meanwhile, at home, Griswold and his wife tried to help their children get back into school. It was only at the advice of health officials that they kept their two unaffected children at school and sent the sick one back Wednesday, they said. Yesterday morning, knowing a maelstrom of news crews and worried parents was probably awaiting them at Folger McKinsey Elementary, Alison Griswold gave her three children a short pep talk on the drive to school. "We've got nothing to be ashamed of," she told them. "We didn't get anyone else at school sick." And Griswold has tried to reach out to his brother's family. His wife and their 7-year-old son made up two of the first three probable cases in Anne Arundel County, and Griswold's 2-year-old nephew tested positive as the third. (Because of pending test results, Griswold himself is listed as a suspected case.) His brother's wife called them, clearly angry about her son's infection. Griswold tried and is still trying to apologize to them. "It's my nephew and godson. I love him dearly," he said. "I would never intentionally expose him to something like that. It's an unfortunate part of this line of work I'm in, but even then, I mean, no one knew when we were down there that this could happen." Beside him, his wife coughed briefly. "It's the pollen. That's why I'm coughing," she said quickly. "Don't worry." Staff writers Lori Aratani, Anita Kumar, Nikita Stewart, Michael Ruane, Dan DeVise and Clarence Williams and staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report. Copyright 2009 Washington Post. *Opinion* --- BACK TO TOP


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