Common sense approach could slow spread of swine-origin flu
Scott & White expert says limiting transmission crucial to mitigation

TEMPLE, Texas - Echoing the need for preventive measures suggested by worldwide health organizations, an infectious disease specialist at Scott & White Healthcare says common sense precautions on the part of the public could give researchers the time needed to develop a vaccine against the virus.

“If we can slow the spread of this swine-origin flu virus, then we have bought ourselves some time to make a vaccine before the virus really takes hold,” said Manju Gaglani, M. D., an infectious disease specialist at Scott & White Healthcare and associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. She is also the principal Scott & White investigator of a landmark study that suggests that vaccines given to school-age children reduce flu infections in the children as well as their families and communities.

In the case of swine-origin flu, Dr. Gaglani said that a vaccine should help prevent flu infections because the vaccine will be made specifically to combat this new swine flu strain.

“We have had small outbreaks, and the cases in the U.S. have not been any more unusual than seasonal flu. That is reassuring,” she said.

Scott & White hospitals and clinics have launched several initiatives to keep patients as safe as possible. In addition, face masks and alcohol-based hand sanitizers are available to use at each Scott & White facility, and trained staff is located at each facility to handle appropriate disease management and containment. Scott & White has also instituted steps to make sure clinic patients are not unduly exposed to infection in waiting rooms.

The best way to avoid the swine-origin flu: avoid sick people and stay home from work or school if you are sick or exposed to someone who has the flu. For guidance on the home care of friends and family with suspected swine flu, please visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_homecare.htm

“This will help us in curbing the spread of this novel virus,” said Dr. Gaglani. “If we each do our part we could see a slowdown in the spread of this virus.”

For other up-to-date information on the swine-origin flu, go to www.cdc.gov/swineflu or Scott & White’s web site sw.org.

For more information, contact:

Scott Clark

Media and Public Relations

254-724-9724 or 254-724-3047

Pager: 254-762-1406

sdclark@swmail.sw.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 28, 2009