POINT PLEASANT — As the number of reported cases of swine influenza continues to rise, officials are assuring Mason County residents that no cases of the disease have been reported locally.

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a type A influenza that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. This influenza in pigs commonly occurs in late fall and winter months.

The classical swine flu virus was first isolated from a pig in 1930. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, but it has happened, particularly in people with direct exposure to pigs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that this virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

The first two human infections with swine influenza were reported April 21. As of Sunday, 20 cases had been investigated for swine flu in Kansas, California, New York, Texas and Ohio.

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. The symptoms can vary in severity from mild to severe. People with swine flu should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to seven days following illness onset. If you have these symptoms and you have traveled to Mexico, San Diego and/or Imperial County in California or San Antonio, Texas, or have been in contact with ill people from these areas, contact a health care provider immediately and make sure he or she knows you are a possible contact so appropriate tests and treatment can be ordered.

As always, people with a respiratory illness with fever should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza and other respiratory illnesses, to others in the community. In addition, frequent hand-washing can lessen the spread of respiratory illness. The CDC states that swine flu can be treated with anti-viral medications much like those used to treat seasonal influenza. These medications will need to be prescribed by a physician and should be started within two days of the onset of symptoms.

Many people may have a concern regarding eating pork products. Swine flu is not spread by food. You cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Is the swine flu considered a pandemic influenza?

An influenza is considered to be a pandemic if it is a new virus or one that has not been seen for a long time and there has been widespread human-to-human transmission across the county. Swine flu has not met the criteria to be called a pandemic influenza, but it is a public health emergency at this time. People should always be aware and take precautions to prevent spread of any illness.

What is the Mason County Health Department doing at this time?

Education to the physicians, hospitals, labs, veterinarians and the general public is the most important task at this time. People who have traveled to Mexico or San Diego or have been in contact with someone who is ill with the above symptoms and has traveled to those areas and are experiencing symptoms should notify a doctor. In the mean time, take measures to prevent the spread of the respiratory illness by covering your cough, washing your hands and staying home until symptoms have passed. Seeing a physician will allow him or her to take specimens to determine if the illness could be swine flu and allow him or her to prescribe medications to shorten the duration and severity of the illness.