Pocono News Section

County EMA Leaders Discussing Swine Flu

County EMA Leaders Discussing Swine Flu - Monday, April 27, 2009 at 5:45PM EST

Concern is growing the U. S. may be facing an epidemic of swine flu. In Mexico, all schools in the country are closed as 149 may be dead from swine flu. There are now 40 confirmed cases of swine flu in the U. S. Federal health officials expect that number may rise. Eyewitness News set out to see if emergency workers in our area are prepared.
The closest case of swine flu to our area has been in New York City. A conference call with every county Emergency Management Director in the state was held late Monday. They're making sure it's treated properly if it arrives in our state.

The swine flu normally isn't passed on to several humans at a time, that's what has doctors and scientists concerned. This strain of the flu is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs. You can catch it just like the normal flu.

Emergency Management Agencies are preparing for the worst. Doctors are especially worried about this flu strain because any time a disease spreads from person to person, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to treat or fight off.

The state Department of Health and emergency management coordinators talked about this in a conference call Monday afternoon. Luzerne County EMA Director Stephen Bekanich said, "Our plans are adaptable whether it's the chicken pox, the measles or the swine flu, so we do have plans in place. We feel that we can respond accordingly if someone is confirmed. Make sure those people are being properly treated and those that may be around them are being taken care of as well."