Swine Flu
Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security
5300 Strawberry Farms Boulevard
Columbus, OH 43230-1049
614-794-0213 FAX 614-882-3209
From: Michael R. Pannell, Director
Subject: Swine Flu
Date: April 27, 2009
Information Bulletin
In response to swine influenza (swine flu) in Ohio, Franklin County Emergency
Management and Homeland Security (FCEM&HS) has activated its Assessment Center
as of 0800 today and will continue to monitor the situation. FCEM&HS is prepared to
staff the Franklin County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) if necessary. At 0700
this morning, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) Assessment Room
was activated.
Direct lines of communication have been established with, the Franklin County Board of
Health (FCBOH), Columbus Public Health (CPH), Central Ohio Trauma System
(COTS), American Red Cross (ARC), OEMA, and other EOC partners to provide
situational awareness and to have a common operational picture for this event.
FCEM&HS will be participating in a statewide Ohio Emergency Management Agency
situational awareness conference call later today.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) today confirmed a case of swine flu involving a
9-year-old boy from Lorain County. The patient is considered to have a mild case of the
disease and is recovering at home. Because this combination of strains of the influenza
virus is new, ODH and local health departments remind Ohioans of the precautions they
should take to avoid exposure (ODH Press Release - Apr. 26, 2009).
Symptoms of this swine flu virus closely resemble seasonal flu, and include fever, muscle
aches, weakness, coughing and lack of appetite. ODH and local health departments are
working with health care providers and hospitals around the state to determine if there are
other cases. (ODH Press Release - Apr. 26, 2009).
For additional information please visit the following Web sites:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Your Online Source for Credible Health Information
Ohio Department of Health on the Ohio Government Web site.
Franklin County Board of Health
Columbus Public Health, on the City of Columbus Web site.
