Missouri health officials on Friday discovered two probable cases of swine flu in a central Missouri family that had recently traveled to Mexico.
The two cases were found during testing of specimens sent to the State Public Health Laboratory by doctors whose patients reported flu-like symptoms. Tests showed that the flu virus afflicting the two patients is a previously unseen type.
Specimens from each patient will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation that it is the swine flu that has now spread to at least 20 states, including Missouri.
No additional information about the family will be released until the patients are notified that their tests indicated the presence of swine flu.
The discovery of the two probable cases came the same day that the CDC confirmed Missouri’s first case of swine flu, which is also known as the 2009 H1N1 virus. The virus has sickened at least 141 people nationwide, but most cases have been relatively mild.
The first Missouri case involved a Platte County woman in her 30s who also had recently traveled to Mexico, where the virus first emerged. In addition, Nebraska authorities say that a Kansas City resident who was in Nebraska to obtain medical care for another condition may also have the same strain of swine flu.
State officials cautioned that isolated cases of swine flu were a concern, but not a cause for alarm. They said the state has a plan to deal with flu outbreaks and local health agencies and state officials are following that plan.
In response to the virus’ presence in Missouri, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has overseen the distribution of medical supplies and antiviral medications to every county in the state. These supplies will bolster private supplies already available in pharmacies, hospitals and medical clinics.