KPLU Local News
(2009-04-27)
HOWELL, MI
(Michigan Radio) -
Federal health officials are testing what could be Michigan's first probable case of Swine flu. There are 20 confirmed cases in five other states, including Ohio. The swine flu has been linked to more than a hundred recent deaths in Mexico.
The unidentified 34 year old Livingston County woman with the probable case of the flu recently returned from a trip to San Antonio.
Donald Lawrenchuk is the director of the Livingston County Department of Community Health. He's urging caution.
"Why are we making such a big deal about this if it's just the flu," but, I mean the flu is the 5th or 6th leading cause of death in our society today. 36,000 people die every year in the United States alone due to influenza, so it is a big deal and it's also a preventable disease.
State health officials have activated Michigan's pandemic flu plan. At this point the state has requested additional medical supplies from the Centers for Disease Control, just in case the influenza virus begins to spread in Michigan.
© Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio
