On Oct. 24, President Barack Obama declared the swine flu pandemic a national emergency – increasing people’s concerns about a very early flu season in which it seems no household has avoided having someone with flu-like symptoms.

There is widespread flu activity in 40 states, including California. Locally, four cases of swine flu have been confirmed for Mt Diablo Elementary and one at Diablo View Middle School.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in October alone, one in five children had flu-like symptoms. The majority of these cases were due to the H1N1 influenza virus.

The CDC also estimates that “many millions” of Americans have already been infected with H1N1 influenza. While only those with severe flu symptoms are being tested, 70 percent of those tested have tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus.

Fortunately, we also know that the H1N1 influenza virus has caused only mild flu symptoms in most of those infected. To date, there have been more than 20,000 hospitalizations for the swine flu and nearly 1,000 deaths. While these numbers are above what is expected for this time of year, they are well below the 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths annually attributable to seasonal influenza.

This does not mean that there is no cause for concern, as the CDC has predicted that the early flu season, mostly due to the swine flu pandemic, will probably result in more deaths due to pneumonia and influenza than seen in previous years.

Most concerning is that 100 children have died of the swine flu – as many as die in a typical flu season.

To minimize the effects of the swine flu pandemic, the CDC highlights three actions people should take: Get vaccinated. The CDC recommends that children 6 months to 19 years of age get the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine for those up to 24 years of age. People over 50, pregnant women and those with certain conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and asthma should also get vaccinated. Talk to your physician if you have questions about vaccination.

Take preventative actions. These include avoiding close contact with sick people, staying home when sick, coughing and sneezing into a tissue, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and regular hand cleaning.

Take antiviral medicines when prescribed by your physician. The CDC also recommends staying informed, as much to reduce anxiety as to know how best to avoid illness.

MDES principle Bob Dodson echoes the attitude of many when he says: “I’m not worried about it at all. We’re following all the protocols and parents have been very cooperative and supportive.”

While the president’s announcement may be concerning, the primary purpose of the declaration was to loosen federal restriction so that hospitals could treat larger numbers of patients, and if necessary, isolate swine flu patients to limit the spread of the illness to other patients.

For additional information on both the seasonal and the H1N1 swine flu, visit cdc.gov/flu/.