Published: August 24, 2009 04:33 pm      

Gov. Perry says Texas prepared for more swine flu

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry and other state officials said Monday that while swine flu still poses a risk, they're better prepared for any outbreak as traditional flu season nears and students return to school.

Local school officials in Texas, which reported some of the first U.S. cases and the first deaths attributed to the virus, can decide to close a school if students or staff become ill, but schools will not automatically be closed as they were last April when the virus first emerged.

Texas has 2.5 million courses of anti-viral medications on hand. It has requested another 800,000 from federal health officials as the traditional flu season nears. The medication can be used to treat swine and seasonal flues though a swine flu vaccine won't be available until mid-October.

"This virus does not seem to want to go away," Perry said. But, "we're more prepared than ever to handle the challenge."

The H1N1 virus, more commonly known as swine flu, emerged in spring as a new strain of flu that worried public health officials because vaccines were unavailable and humans lacked natural immunity to the disease.

The first vaccine for swine flu will be distributed to states by population and should go to people considered most vulnerable to the disease: school-age children, people chronic health conditions and pregnant women.

The anti-viral medication will be distributed, if necessary, with the help of grocery chain H-E-B or with local pharmacies.

Commissioner David Lakey of the Texas Department of State Health Services said so far the virus does not appear to be more severe than the seasonal flu but the state is taking precautions.

State Education Commissioner Robert Scott said the state will work with any schools that decide to close because of an outbreak. It will assist them with funding and logistics, and state officials have arranged to ensure students who qualify for free meals can continue to get them if a school closes because of an outbreak.

As many Texas students went back to school Monday, Scott urged parents to keep their children home if they are suffering flu symptoms, which include fever, cough, sneezing, chills, aches and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting.

"This is not the year to be worried about the perfect attendance award," Scott said. "If you're ill, stay home."

Texas officials were also urging residents to take other commonsense steps like frequently washing their hands, covering coughs and using alcohol-based hand sanitizing products.