Doctors Notice Swine Flu Popping Up in Area

We now have the first death in our area from the Swine Flu.

Erlanger officials tell us a patient died at T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital from the H1N1 Virus.

They say the child was transferred from another facility and is not from Chattanooga or Hamilton County.

Local doctors are seeing Swine flu cases.

Hamilton Pediatrics had ten suspected cases in its three offices the last few days.

Doctors tell us the symptoms have been just like the common cold or flu.

Dr. Tomasz Voychehovski, Hamilton Pediatrics, "The cold can be very bad with a high fever runny nose coughing feeling bad flu is just the same but more of that."

The Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department also noticed a spike in calls from concerned parents.

The Health Department suggests anyone with flu like illnesses stay home from school or work until they are fever free for 24 hours without taking any medicine.

Health officials in Alabama urge schools and businesses to stop  requiring doctor's excuses for absences.

They hope that will keep the sick at home and prevent extra doctors visits to fill out excuses.

Health officials stress it's vital for pregnant women and new parents to get the vaccine early.

CDC officials said that women in any trimester should get it.