Ill. officials ready for possible swine flu

Please note there are no confirmed cases. Let's hope it stays that way.

AP:

Officials say they're focusing on special populations, such as children, seniors and immigrants, and they're ready to handle any possible infections.

Seven people with cold symptoms have already been tested for the swine flu, but none are carrying the virus.

Illinois Public Health Director Damon Arnold says officials are in daily contact with local hospitals and health departments. He says the state will receive additional anti-flu drugs from federal stockpiles this week.

And CPS is preparing itself for this flu as well:

Huberman says parents would be asked basic health questions when they call their children in sick. He said that information would be shared with the public health department.

Huberman also says principals and school nurses would receive special protocols to follow in time for classes to convene Monday.

Here's a link to CPS with information regarding their response to the swine flu.

UPDATE One school is already taking steps according to the Tribune although one aspect of that was already listed above:

Orozco Community Academy Principal Coralia Barraza also says when parents call to say their children are home sick, school officials are being told to ask more questions about the illness than they typically do.

Barraza says the school in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood is being particularly vigilant because it has a lot of Hispanic children and routinely enrolls students who've just arrived from Mexico -- including one just last week.

She also says students travel with their families to and from Mexico.

Probably not a big deal yet, but it's better to know about this a possible outbreak than to not know.

UPDATE Also from the Tribune Cook County officials are preparing for an outbreak as well.

With at least 22 people dead from swine flu in Mexico and at least 40 reported cases in the United States, local health officials said this morning they're making plans in case patients here contract the illness.

Cook County health officials decided this morning to put patients at county emergency rooms and clinics with flu-like symptoms in airborne isolation until they can be tested. They also ordered that anyone entering the room of suspected carriers must wear a protective gown, goggles, gloves and a mask, said Stroger Hospital spokesman Marcel Bright.

Officials have reserves of the vaccine Tamiflu, as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and will meet through the afternoon to devise other preparatory measures. "We have the equipment and staff necessary to treat patients" if there is an outbreak, Bright said. "We have all that on hand."

UPDATE Read Swine flu tips from Julie's Health Club at the Tribune.

UPDATE CLTV gives us the break down on this swine flu. Eating pork or pork products will not infect you with the swine flu! That's the main thing.