SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES DECLARE LOCAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES OVER SWINE FLU

April 29, 2009 (San Diego)—San Diego and Iimperial Counties both declared local health emergencies today. The declarations are routine steps in preparations for addressing an outbreak of swine flu. There are eight confirmed cases in San Diego County and 5 confirmed cases in Imperial County. The three newest cases in San Diego County include a three-year-old boy and his father, as well as a 23-year-old man. An additional seven cases of suspected swine flu are currently being tested, East County Magazine has learned.

“Declaring a public health emergency is routine in situations like this and done to assist our health professionals in doing their job of protecting our residents,” said Dianne Jacob, Chairwoman, County of San Diego Board of Supervisors, District 2. “We want residents to remain calm and know that County government is doing everything we can to mitigate the spread of the swine flu virus.”

The emergency declaration allows both counties flexibility in dealing with the swine flu virus and allows them to access state and federal funds, supplies and equipment that have been made available.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and the Imperial County Public Health Department continue to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health to determine the cause of the infections and the extent of human-to-human spread of the swine flu.