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Working with the medical community, hospitals, schools, city and county officials in Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg and Duvall and in coordination with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD) continues enhanced surveillance and early detection of H1N1 to monitor and prevent the spread of this novel virus. Because of the department’s quick preventive actions and intervention, public health officials contained secondary spread and are happy to report that 12 of 61 suspects tested negative for H1N1. DSHS through telephone informed the City of Laredo Health Department of the results last night.
Although this novel Influenza A H1N1 virus now seems to be acting just like seasonal flu, public health officials will continue to monitor vulnerable and susceptible populations to ensure positive outcomes if someone is exposed and/or infected. Because of the widespread throughout the United States, as well as the region, it seems as if there is another flu season with this new H1N1. Therefore, all should remain cautious and alert, but not alarmed or panicked.
Individuals should continue practicing preventive measures with hygiene and respiratory precautions (cover mouth when cough and wash hands, cover with tissue and wash hands, cough into your elbow and wash hands, wash before and after using bathroom facilities and before you handle food). Schools are no longer any more at risk than the rest of the community however school officials and nurses have been advised to continue monitoring for flu like illness and if meets the case definition exclude children from school for 7 days as per CDC/DSHS guidance.
All schools are safe to return to classes on Monday, May 11, 2009 especially since all suspects have no secondary spread and the only probable case has passed the infectious period, recovered fully and since schools were closed could not spread to others. Summary of H1N1 morbidity;
Laredo/Webb
… 49 Suspects now that 12 have been ruled as with H1N1 negative results.
… One (1) probable case sent to CDC for further testing, a 13 year student at George Washington Middle School; he is fully recovered and no secondary cases have been reported
… Nine (9) patients ranged from 8 months to 60 years of age were considered hospitalized.

Zapata
2 suspects

Duvall
1 suspect

Jim Hogg
0 suspects
The City of Laredo Health Department wil continue with its hotline from 8-5 pm Monday –Friday at (956) 795-4921, pre-recorded English and Spanish at (956) 795-4954 or call the 24-hour pager number (956) 344-1569.