A case of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus was confirmed by state officials today in a Leavenworth County child, bringing the state’s total confirmed cases to 95.
The child is the first case confirmed in the county, officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Thursday.
Since the first two cases were reported in Dickinson County almost a month ago, health officials have warned that additional cases were expected. So far in Kansas, there have been no deaths and relatively few reported hospitalizations due to the illness.
Since the outbreak began, Geary and Riley counties have reported the highest number of confirmed cases, with 25 and 23 cases respectively. Wyandotte County is next with 15, followed by Johnson County with 11. Saline County has had eight confirmed cases; Sedgwick County has three.
Other counties with confirmed cases — Dickinson, Douglas, Ford, Gove, Leavenworth, Morton, Ottawa, and Reno — each have reported one or two.
KDHE Director of Health Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips last week said the focus of public health workers would now be on where new cases of the virus are being detected, not on confirming additional cases in counties that already have reported several cases.
Eberhart-Phillips advised parents to be on the lookout for flu symptoms in their children as summer begins.
“Many cases of the 2009 H1N1 virus have occurred in children, and we know that any flu virus can spread more easily in group settings,” he said. “If your children show signs of illness, contact your family doctor or a local clinic and keep them home from summer camps, day cares or other group activities.”
Symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include:
• Fever greater than 100 degrees;
• Body aches;
• Coughing;
• Sore throat;
• Respiratory congestion; and
• In some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.
Officials said that those who experience the symptoms should contact their health care provider to determine whether testing or treatment is needed. There is no vaccine yet available to protect against the H1N1 flu virus, but there are treatments available once the infection is diagnosed.
KDHE has a phone number for Kansans to call with questions about the H1N1 influenza. The toll-free number is 1-877-427-7317. Operators will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Questions also can be e-mailed to H1N1fluinfo@kdheks.gov. Information is also available at www.kdheks.gov.