Bonneville County Resident Has Novel H1N1 Flu Infection

A 17-year old Bonneville County girl has tested positive for Novel H1N1 flu according to the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories. The teen is recovering at home. The teen was a student at a District 91 alternative high school. School officials have been notified of this case and they are currently in the process of distributing information to families.

Initial investigation by health district staff found that the teen did not have a travel history or have close contact with anyone with a travel history. “This is a reminder to everyone that Novel H1N1 flu has been identified in our state and we each need to do our part to help prevent the spread of the flu virus,” said Mike Taylor, Surveillance Epidemiologist for Eastern Idaho Public Health District. “Wash your hands frequently, cover your cough, and stay home if you are ill. These three simple steps can help stop transmission of the flu virus.”

Health authorities believe Novel H1N1 Flu spreads through the air like seasonal flu. Because it is a new virus, people have little to no immunity to it. Symptoms, too, are similar to the seasonal flu—fever, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches, chills, and fatigue. Only a test can identify the virus causing the illness.

This is the second positive case of Novel H1N1 in Eastern Idaho Public Health District’s eight-county region. The first case involved a 34-year old Madison County man who has since recovered. To date, 12 Idahoans have tested positive for the Novel H1N1 flu. Public health officials across the state continue to work closely with healthcare providers to monitor influenza-like illnesses in our communities.