Two cases of Swine Flu, also known as H1N1 flu, were confirmed in Chippewa County last week, and, as a result, all local illnesses of flu-like symptoms will be presumed to be Swine Flu, said David Martin, health officer of the Chippewa County Health Department, Friday, October 16.

No cases of seasonal flu have been confirmed there.

No cases of Swine Flu have been identified in Mackinac County as of Monday, October 19, according to LMAS Health Department, which serves Mackinac, Luce, Alger, and Schoolcraft counties.

In Chippewa County, people who are ill are being advised to stay home until they feel well, unless they need medical care. Laboratory testing of every suspected case of flu to determine whether it's seasonal flu or Swine Flu is too costly, Mr. Martin said, and most people who are sick with flu will get better on their own without treatment, so it will be difficult to determine the exact number of local H1N1 cases.

"All flu that's out there right now is presumed to be H1N1," he said.

Vaccinations against Swine Flu are in limited supply right now, and the first to be treated when vaccine is available will be health care workers and people considered to be at special risk, such as pregnant mothers. Laboratories are not producing vaccine quickly enough to keep pace with demand.

Mr. Martin said he expects doses of vaccine to begin arriving this week, and people will be notified when public flu shot clinics are planned through the media and the health department's Web site.

He cautions people against panic about the presence of flu in the community.

"We were expecting this and we're ready for this," he said of the Swine Flu. "The good news is, it spreads quickly, but its impact is not necessarily that strong."

Most people who get influenza will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, without medical treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

This strain of flu causes a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people may also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

While vaccination is the best way to avoid contracting flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control, people can take everyday precautions to improve their chances of staying healthy. These include:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Then wash your hands.

Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcoholbased hand rub.

Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread that way.

Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends people stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

Immunization against both strains of flu, seasonal flu and Swine Flu, is recommended.

The vaccination clinic for seasonal flu Tuesday, October 6, in Sault Ste. Marie had to close early owing to the delay of seasonal flu vaccine from manufacturers.

A seasonal flu vaccine clinic scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, at Mackinac Straits Hospital has been canceled owing to shortage of vaccine.

Information about upcoming flu vaccination clinics is published in The St. Ignace News as it becomes available.

When Swine Flu vaccinations become available, Chippewa County Health Department will begin vaccinating the priority groups. Pregnant women will be the first to receive the vaccine, as they are at the highest risk of developing complications from illnesses. Caregivers of children younger than six months will be second on the list, and health care and emergency medical service staff will be next. Everyone six months to 24 years old will be fourth in line, while people 25 years and older will be the last to receive the vaccine.

In Chippewa County, consult the Web site www.chippewahd.com or call the health department hotline at 253-3141 for vaccine updates as they become available. More information about Swine Flu and precautions against illness is available at the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov.