Area Health Officials Brace For Swine Flu Outbreak

VIA WJLA:

WASHINGTON – As summer nears it’s end, state and federal health officials have started preparing for a potential outbreak of swine flu this Fall.

Recently, health experts met in D.C. to discuss efforts to keep the spread of the virus to a minimum. Local schools have also jumped on board, unveiling their preparedness plans for a possible outbreak of the virus.

“They just don’t want to get infected,” said David Peck, Wilson High Student. ” One of my classmates was concerned about holding hands at an ice-breaker activity.”

This come just days after health officials predicted that half of the country could become infected with the swine flu this year.

“We shouldn’t minimize the effect this virus will have on the population,” said Dr. William Schaffner.

According to a presidential advisory panel, as many as 120 million Americans could get sick with the swine flu this fall and as many as 90 thousand Americans could die from the virus. That’s more than twice the effects from a normal flu season.

Read more here.