MERCER COUNTY — If you’ve been suffering from flu-like symptoms for at least a few days, the chances are pretty good you have swine flu.

Also known as H1N1, the virus is spreading, even more so than the seasonal flu health officials usually see this time of year, said Holli Senior, a spokesperson with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

As of Friday afternoon, there were 26 confirmed swine flu cases in Mercer County, but the illness is very underreported because a lot of people carrying it aren’t tested, she said.

“That’s just a snapshot,” Ms. Senior said of how many people probably have swine flu.

The Department of Health can’t speak for doctors who aren’t testing for swine flu, but they likely feel it’s unnecessary because treatment for swine flu calls for the same care as the seasonal flu: stay home, rest and drink a lot of fluids, Ms. Senior said.

Anti-viral medications can help combat the symptoms of swine flu, but only if they’re taken within 48 hours of the onset of the virus.

Prevention is important but it’s still too early to tell when Mercer County will get shipments of the swine flu vaccine. Health officials anticipate 900,000 doses to be shipped throughout the state and about 400,000 have gone out, she said.

“The number changes so much and it’s really difficult to put a timeline on it,” Ms. Senior said.

Schools, physicians, pharmacies and other health-care providers can register with the department to receive the vaccine when it’s available.

Ms. Senior said people wanting to know where they can get the shot can call their children’s school, family doctor or pharmacy to find out if they’re registered to serve as a vaccine clinic.

In Mercer County, at least Greenville Area and Hermitage school districts have registered to host clinics.

Greenville school officials, who confirmed two student cases of swine flu this week, are still waiting for more details from health officials, Superintendent Dr. Patricia M. Homer said, adding more information is posted on the district’s Web site at www.greenville.k12.pa.us

Both Greenville and Hermitage School District, which reported one case of swine flu, notified parents by letter about the illness and how to prevent it, which Ms. Senior said was great to hear.

“Communication is key,” she said.

Hermitage school officials were notified Wednesday that a student at Artman Elementary, which houses kindergarten through third grade, probably has a case of H1N1 flu.

Superintendent Dr. Daniel Bell said he could not comment on the student’s condition, but a school nurse told him it is not believed that the student exposed other students to the virus.

Hermitage did not have school Monday or Tuesday because of in-service days, and the student had not been to school all week, Bell said.

“We are cooperating with the Department of Health and taking their lead in how to proceed,” he said.

Bell issued a letter to students Thursday — it is available at the district’s Web site, www.hermitage.k12.pa.us — informing them of the case. The letter also includes information about preventing sickness and how to handle illnesses, all information pulled from the health department.

The letter noted the department did not recommend closing school, and that the district has been asked to hold a voluntary H1N1 flu vaccination clinic. The school board on Monday will consider allowing the clinic.

The letter also said school officials will not be notifying parents of additional H1N1 cases, unless the situation becomes “more critical.”

Reynolds and Jamestown area school district officials have also confirmed one student case each. More information is posted on their respective Web sites: www.reynolds.k12.pa.us and www.jamestown.k12.pa.us

More information about swine flu and when and where the vaccine will be offered as it becomes available can be found at www.h1n1inpa.com

People can also call the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 877-724-3258.



Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot contributed to this story.