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Memphis, TN. - The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department has announced that the Tennessee Department of Health lab has confirmed the second probable case of the novel H1N1 virus (swine influenza) in the state. The specimen was from a Shelby County resident who attends Incarnation School in Collierville.
The specimen was sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week to confirm the preliminary results. However, due to a significant backlog at the CDC, federal officials have now provided flu kits to states including Tennessee in order for cases to be confirmed faster. Given this, the state lab is now able to confirm the probable case in Shelby.
"This confirmation underscores what we strongly suspected last week," said Yvonne Madlock, Director of the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department. "While we have only reported one confirmed case, this by no means indicates that there might not be other cases that occur. This is why we continue to emphasize that people practice good hygiene by washing their hands frequently, coughing into their sleeve or a tissue, and if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, stay at home."
The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department is continuing to conduct active surveillance to determine how widespread this virus might be in Shelby County. In addition, Health Department officials are working with the Tennessee Department of Health to ensure that Shelby County has adequate medical supplies and necessary medications on hand should they be needed.
"If and when additional information develops, we will continue to provide information to the County and appreciate the positive response we have received thus far to recommendations from the local Health Department," Madlock added.
For more information about the H1N1 virus, visit www.shelbycountytn.gov or call the Department's recorded information line at 544.6969 or call 2-1-1 or 415.2790. A breakdown of confirmed and probable cases is now available on the Tennessee Department of Health's web site: www.tn.gov/health.
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