To get information about the swine H1N1 flu dial our Call Center: (630) 208-3315.  The call line will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on week days and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Kane County Health Department is announcing that five new probable cases of swine flu have been identified, bringing the total to seven in the county. One of the cases involves a student at Haines Middles School in St. Charles. In consultation with the school district, the decision was made to temporarily close Haines at 1 p.m. today.

The Health Department is currently investigating the other four new probable cases.

The school closings, including those announced yesterday will help interrupt HIN1 influenza transmission in these settings where many children share common space and will protect students, staff and the community. While this is not a prevention action taken for ordinary flu season, it makes sense in the early stages of this new swine H1N1 influenza period.

A probable case is a case where two out of three stages of testing have been completed and are positive. The third stage of testing for these probable cases takes place at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  No confirmed cases of swine H1N1 influenza have yet been identified in Kane County.

“I want to assure parents that we’re doing everything we can to prevent the spread of swine flu in our schools and in our communities. We hope that by taking these steps, we can get ahead of any potential illness in the student body and reduce the possibility of transmission,” Health Department Executive Director Paul Kuehnert said.

Everyday actions people can take to stay healthy are:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Please visit the Health Department’s website, www.kanehealth.com for the latest information. There is also a link on the KCHD website to the CDC’s flu information page www.cdc.gov/swineflu/