Governor Rell: 11 More Cases of H1N1 Confirmed

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Department of Public Health has confirmed 11 new cases of novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) among Connecticut residents.

            Positive results for H1N1 flu were confirmed today at the department’s Public Health Laboratory for three residents of Ridgefield as well as for residents of Danbury, Darien, Derby, Greenwich, Old Saybrook, Waterbury and Wilton.

            “We continue to expect new cases, and now our own state laboratory is able to do the testing so we do not have to wait for responses from the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta,” Governor Rell said. “Happily, the cases we have seen continue to be relatively mild and people are recovering without needing to spend time in a hospital.”

            A total of 25 confirmed cases have now been identified among Connecticut residents, with four probable cases still being tested. Among the 29 cases, ages range from 4 to 56; 16 are female and 13 are male. Cases are from the following counties: Fairfield, 18; Hartford, 5; New Haven, 3; New London, 2; and Middlesex, 1.

            Twenty-three of the 29 have been contacted by DPH staff. All of those individuals are recovering or have recovered and none required hospitalization. DPH epidemiologists are still in the process of contacting the remaining six individuals.

            “The Department of Public Health will continue to monitor for additional cases,” the Governor said. “We continue to encourage people to take simple, common-sense precautions to protect themselves and prevent the spread of the flu. People with flu-like symptoms should call their doctor.”

            DPH continues to ask residents to take precautions to prevent getting the flu or spreading it by staying home from work or school if they are sick, washing their hands frequently, and coughing or sneezing into their sleeve or a tissue.

             For more information on swine flu:

• Connecticut Flu Watch: www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch/swineflu
• Connecticut Department of Public Health: www.ct.gov/dph
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
• Call 211