Stories to include: 2 cases at Randolph AFB; Military is prepared if needed; Death at Wilford Hall NOT Swine Flu; Camp Pendleton has POSSIBLE case of Swine Flu.
Screening program prompts fast swine flu identification
by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
4/28/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Defense Department's worldwide influenza monitoring program and decisive action by the medical staff at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, are being credited with helping to identify two cases of swine flu early to help prevent a potential spread.
Two 16-year-old boys, both military family members and students at Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas, reported to the Randolph Military Clinic in mid-April suffering from fever, coughs and chills. Lt. Col. Gregory York, deputy commander of the 12th Medical Group, said both exhibited "classic flu-like symptoms."
Rather than simply sending the boys home to rest and hydrate, their doctors took the extra step of harvesting "nasal washes" and submitting them for testing through the Defense Department's Worldwide Influenza Surveillance Program, Colonel York said.
Air Force officials established the lab-based influenza surveillance program in 1976 at what is now Brooks City-Base, also in San Antonio. The lab routinely monitors suspected flu cases from military bases around the world, as well as from targeted "sentinel sites" to detect local respiratory outbreaks and emerging strains.
The lab identified both boys' cultures as "Influenza A," but couldn't pin down the specific influenza sub-type. That automatically triggered staffers there to fly the cultures to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for additional testing. Those tests confirmed late last week that the cultures were swine flu.
As the testing was conducted, both boys were at their homes, getting bed rest and drinking fluids as their doctors had advised. But even more importantly, Colonel York said, they minimized contact with other people, critical to "breaking that chain" of spreading the contagious flu virus.
Both boys have made full recoveries, and no additional cases have been identified at the Randolph clinic, Colonel York said.
But that's not stopping the staff at the Randolph clinic from taking a strong, pro-active approach to preventing further infections, Colonel York added. In addition to an aggressive base education program being conducted in cooperation with the CDC and Texas Department of Health, the clinic staff is screening all incoming patients who exhibit flu-like symptoms.
Patients with fevers of 100.5 degrees or higher or sore throats and coughs are issued protective masks and isolated from other patients to be evaluated for influenza, Colonel York said.
While emphasizing that Randolph AFB is at no higher risk than anywhere else, Colonel York said the staff has become especially vigilant in trying to identify those with possible symptoms as early as possible. "Our antennas are up a bit higher," he said.
"Surveillance and infection control are the keys to avoiding contact and the spread of the virus," Colonel York said. "It all falls on prevention and being on top of this to identify individuals up front as fast as possible to break the chain."
Military officials monitor swine flu
by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
4/27/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Defense Department officials are monitoring the swine flu situation closely, with their primary focus on protecting the military population, a senior Pentagon official said April 27.
As officials with the Department of Health and Human Services lead the U.S. effort, the military is posturing itself to respond if required, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
"We certainly have a number of contingency plans for dealing with health incidences like this, because our primary goal is preservation of the fighting force," he said. "So we obviously have plans and take measures to ensure that we can preserve the fighting strength of the military in the event that there should be a greater crisis with respect to a health situation like this."
Two prescription anti-viral drugs, relenza and tamiflu, already are standard stock at U.S. military treatment facilities, and larger quantities are stockpiled at several sites in the United States and overseas, Mr. Whitman said.
President Barack Obama told the National Academy of Sciences the emerging incidence of swine flu in the United States "is obviously a cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert, but it's not a cause for alarm."
Representatives at the Centers for Disease Control have confirmed 40 cases of swine flu virus infection in the United States in California, Kansas, Ohio and Texas as well as New York City. None have involved members of the military or their families.
Greater cases of infections have been reported internationally, particularly in Mexico.
Obama said HHS officials have declared a public health emergency only "as a precautionary tool to ensure that we have the resources we need at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively." Officials with HHS, the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security will provide the American people regular updates about steps being taken and precautions that may be required, he said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry distributed CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of swine flu to the federal work force. Mr. Berry also distributed guidance for federal agencies to protect their work forces and the public and to ensure continuity of operations in the event that they must institute their already-prepared pandemic influenza preparedness plans.
CDC specialists recommend the following actions people can take to stay healthy:
-- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
-- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also are effective.
-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
CDC experts also recommend avoiding close contact with sick people, particularly if they are coughing or sneezing, and to stay home if you're sick to avoid infecting others.
Airman dies at Wilford Hall Medical Center
/27/2009 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Airman 1st Class Keith Mylott, 19, of Enfield, Conn., assigned to the 343rd Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, died April 25 at Wilford Hall Medical Center due to complications from pneumonia.
Airman Mylott was undergoing technical training as a security forces apprentice and was a member of the Connecticut Air National Guard.
Air Force officials confirmed the pneumonia was not a case of swine flu.
"Losing a family member is very difficult. The Airman's family and the Air Force family are both grieving this very tragic loss," said Brig. Gen. Leonard A. Patrick, 37th Training Wing commander. "Our hearts go out to the Airman's family, friends and colleagues." 
Camp Pendleton Marine has Flu
By MsMarti
A Marine at Camp Pendleton has come down with the flu, however it is NOT a confirmed case of Swine Flu at this time. As a precaution, he has been placed in quarantine, along with his roommate who is not showing any swine flu symptoms at this time.
"The initial tests are that he is suspected to have the flu," Gen. James Conway said at a Pentagon briefing.
But, he added, "He's doing fine. He's up and about, he says he feels pretty good. ... There appears to be no threat him in terms of loss of life."
As an additional precautionary step, 37 other Marines
The first Marine developed symptoms last Saturday, April 25th, 2009 but is starting to feel better now.
His roommate and the other 37 Marines are receiving Tamiflu, Conway said. But the ailing Marine is not because "Tamiflu would not help him at this point."
"He has sort of reached the apex of the exposure," Conway said. "So he is being treated for some of his other symptoms, but he is not being treated against, let's say, getting the flu."
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