Story Created:
May 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM AKDT
Story Updated:
May 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM AKDT
The state of Alaska is covering all their bases preparing for the worst, just in case the Swine Flu hits here locally.
Fort Richardson will serve as the emergency coordination center, starting this week. This will help centralize operations and make sure that if anti-virals are needed then they can be accessed as quickly as possible.
141 cases have been reported in the U.S. resulting in the death of one small child.
In Mexico, 156 cases were confirmed along with 9 deaths. 13 other contries have confirmed cases of the virus.
Alaska has yet to have a confirmed case but the state is preparing for the worst because officials believe it is only a matter of time until the swine flu makes its way to the Last Frontier. Dr. Jay Butler, Chief Medical Officer says, "in seasonal influenza, the people who are most likely to require hospitalization or to die are the very young, the very old, and those with underlying medical conditions. Based on our experience so far with this new 2009 virus, it's a little early to say who might be at the highest risk."
In response to the travel scare, Alaska Airlines isremoving all pillows and plankets from its 114 plane. The aircraft are also undergoing an interior surface cleaning during their over night maintenance.
Doctors are not advising against travel altogether but that do advise postponing any flights to Mexico, where cases of the swine flu have been reported to be the most severe.
