Two H1N1 Cases in Muskingum

Health officials announced Thursday that two test results have come back positive for the H1N1 virus. They are the first confirmed cases of H1N1 in Muskingum County.

The first case is a 54-year-old man and the second is a 17-year-old boy. The Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department says this just confirms what they were already expecting and that they are in daily contact with the Genesis HealthCare System to monitor the spread of the virus.

"The infection control staff at the hospital is also keeping us apprised of how many people are coming into the ER, how many flu tests they’ve run. This rapid flu tests, the tests that they do for screening, not the H-1-N-1 specifically and how many are hospitalized. So that conversation and communication is on-going," says Bob Brems, Health Department Epidemiologist

Both patients are recovering at home. The 17-year-old boy’s parents had a private lab test for the virus. The 54-year-old man was hospitalized, which is the only way to actually get tested for H1N1.

"They can’t just come to the emergency room to get tested for H-1. The patient actually has to be sick enough to be hospitalized in order for us to send it to the state department to be tested," says Dr. Alissa Ackelson, Genesis Director of Infection.

Dr. Ackleson says you should only go to the emergency room if you are having trouble breathing or cannot keep hydrated. If your symptoms are not that severe go to an urgent care facility or your family doctor for treatment.