Residents cautioned about swine flu and measles symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control is warning people to be alert for the symptoms of swine flu. Several cases of swine flu have appeared in the United States following an outbreak in Mexico. So far cases have been reported in California, Texas, New York City, Kansas and Ohio. Symptoms include flu-like symptoms of fever, aches and pains, sore throats, coughing and trouble breathing.

At the same time, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has issued a press release which underscores the importance of measles immunizations following reports that an eastern Missouri man is among several people throughout the country who contracted measles while attending a recent meeting in Maryland.

The department is contacting other Missourians who attended the meeting to let them know of their potential exposure. Measles is a serious, potentially deadly viral illness that can easily be spread among people who have not been vaccinated. Symptoms include a high fever, watery eyes, a runny nose and a cough.

The MDHSS and CDC say that anyone experience either condition should avoid contact with others during the contagious period. In fact they recommend not going to a health care facility without calling first to arrange the visit to avoid spreading the virus to others.

Susan Kneeskern, public health consulting nurse for MDHSS, said common sense precautions were encouraged.

"You want to remember the basics, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and dispose of it properly," Kneeskern said. "Wash surfaces such as the arms of chairs that you touch often. Soap and water is pretty darn good for cleaning. Anytime you don't have access to soap and water hand sanitizers are pretty good."

If you lack a tissue, using the crook of your elbow is an acceptable alternative.

"Cough into your elbow, it's a barrier and it keeps us from transmitting it to others," Kneeskern said. "Schools are teaching that method to students. If you cough into your hand the next thing you touch will be contaminated."

While the best way to keep from catching measles is vaccination there is no vaccine yet for swine flu although one is in development. Children and some adults should make sure they are current on the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccinations.

Adults born during or after 1957 should receive one or more doses of MMR unless they have a medical contraindication, documentation of one or more doses, history of measles based on health-care provider diagnosis, or laboratory evidence of immunity. Adults born before 1957 are generally considered immune to measles.

"We didn't have immunizations back then and they generally developed the disease," Kneeskern said. "But adults who've never been vaccinated need it, there are a lot of countries that don't vaccinate so if they come here they should get one and those born after 1957 might. People should be aware, take a pause and look at their immunization history and make sure they're up to date."

In a related story, pork futures sank on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange amid rising concerns surrounding the global swine flu outbreak. Consumers are worried about catching the virus from the pork, analysts said, even as U.S. pork producers maintained that their product is safe and Americans cannot catch the virus when they cook their pork properly.

Multiple countries are increasing their screening of pig products from some U.S. states and Mexico, while China and Russia have issued outright bans on pork from affected areas and Indonesia is blocking all pork imports.

Federal health officials say the virus that has triggered fears of a flu pandemic is not transmitted by food, and that all food-borne germs are killed when pork is cooked to the recommended internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahenheit.

There also is no evidence so far that American pigs are infected with the virus, or that people can become infected by touching uncooked pork, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.