TALLAHASSEE -- Florida has 63 confirmed cases in the following counties: one in Osceola, Alachua, Indian River, Marion, Clay, Collier, Lake, Manatee, Flagler, Seminole, Okeechobee, and Duval, two in Brevard and Palm Beach, 3 in Pinellas, Sarasota, and Orange, 7 in Lee, 8 in Hillsborough, 11 in Dade , and 12 in Broward .
New confirmed cases:
* Sarasota: a 6 year-old female
* Palm Beach: an 18 year-old male and a 75 year-old male
* Broward: a 60 year-old male
* Orange: a 21 year-old male
* We have 2 probables in Okaloosa County.
CDC no longer recommends that communities with a laboratory confirmed case of influenza A H1N1 consider adopting school dismissal or childcare closure measures.
A public health emergency was declared by the State Surgeon General. A toll free information line has been established for Swine Flu information. The number is 1-800- 775 8039. Samples are being received by Florida Department of Health Laboratories for analysis from physicians and hospitals across the state.
Department of Health continues its enhanced surveillance with a network of Sentinel Physician Providers. These providers send selected samples of laboratory specimens to state laboratories for testing if they have patients with influenza like illness (ILI). These physicians also continue to report weekly ILI cases to the Department of Health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 2532 confirmed cases of novel influenza in the United States with three deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) alert level remains at Phase 5. The declaration of a Phase 5 is a strong signal that the pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.
* Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
* Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.
People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.
If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home.
For more info please visit www.volusiahealth.com or www.cdc.gov. You also may call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (800) CDC-INFO.