The latest international health scare, the swine flu, has begun to spread through the United States, with the number of reported cases mounting, but it has yet to hit Wisconsin.
According to Seth Boffeli, communications director for the state Department of Health Services, there have been no positive cases for the swine flu in Wisconsin so far. Ten Wisconsin residents have undergone tests for it, but the results were negative.
""It's important to recognize that we don't have an actual pandemic right now, we're still in that preparation phase,"" said Sarah Van Orman, director of University Health Services.
According to Van Orman, UHS has an existing influenza plan for the campus. Each unit of the plan depends on what might happen during a pandemic. Most of Monday was spent in the communication and education phase.
Bofelli says that this is a mutated form of the swine flu, which normally only affects pigs. It has now spread to humans with some of the same genetic characteristics as the human flu.
The disease originated in Mexico, a popular spring break destination. However, UW students who traveled there for spring break between March 14 and 21 would have experienced symptoms already if they contracted the flu, according to Boffeli.
As of press time, there were a total of 40 cases reported in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention breakdown is seven cases in California, two cases in Kansas, 28 cases in New York City, one case in Ohio and two cases in Texas.
Transmission of the swine flu, according to the CDC, is generally from pig to person, and then from person to person like that of a human flu virus, through coughing and sneezing.
Everyday actions a person can take to avoid contracting the virus include the usual defenses against influenza viruses, such as covering your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, washing your hands often and trying and avoid anyone who is already sick, according to the CDC.
Doyle said in a statement everyone should remain calm.
""We are in regular contact with health officials across our state and nation, and new information will be provided as it becomes available,"" he said.
—Kelsey Gunderson contributed to this report.
