Northwest Georgia Public Health Director Wade Sellers says epidemiologists in his office continue to monitor for cases of swine flu in the ten county area that his department covers which includes Chattooga County.

 

Sellers said that they are working closely with private healthcare providers in the region to gather information and guidance to screen possible cases of the H1N1 influenza.  Dr. Sellers says that should the virus be identified in the area follow up would include voluntary isolation, contact tracing, antiviral treatment and preventive medicine.

 On Saturday, Dr. Sellers confirmed that cases from undisclosed counties in Northwest Georgia have been sent to the CDC to be tested.  Sellers said that he remains in close communication with public school officials but that it was impossible to tell what might trigger recommendations to close schools should the swine flu be identified in the Coosa Valley area.