At present, there are about 50 confirmed cases of swine influenza (flu) in the U.S.  At this time, the cases closest to New Hampshire have been discovered in New York City.  Swine flu, like all strains of influenza, is a viral infection that affects the airways. It is a serious illness. Symptoms may include: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue; and with this particular strain, a few more patients than usual have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

“Swine flu, as with other flu strains, is especially serious for people who live with chronic diseases that affect their breathing, like asthma and COPD,” said Diane Smogor, VP of Program Services at Breathe New Hampshire. “When a person has a lung health issue, their airways are already somewhat inflamed and more susceptible to infection.  That means it is easier for these folks to catch the flu, if they are exposed to it, and the severity of the flu is likely to be greater.”  Flu can actually trigger asthma attacks.

Breathe New Hampshire is also concerned about those with compromised lung health because “some of the symptoms of the flu may feel similar at first to those symptoms associated with asthma or COPD, especially if the person also has allergies, which many people with asthma do,” explained Smogor.  “We are concerned that some of our constituents may not readily associate these symptoms with Swine Flu.  We urge individuals living with lung disease who notice a cough, more shortness of breath than usual, and a runny or stuffy nose, to be on the alert for other symptoms that are unique to the flu such as: high fever with chills, aching, tender muscles, headache, extreme fatigue and loss of energy, and a sore throat.”  Individuals with such symptoms should consult with a physician and be tested.

Breathe New Hampshire is posting frequent daily news updates on this outbreak at www.breathenh.org/swineflu.