Swine flu warrants precaution, but not panic

A worker disinfects a classroom in Texas, where there were two confirmed cases of swine flu Monday.

Mexico's swine flu outbreak has spread to the United States and countries as far away as New Zealand and Israel, and it's worrisome to see how fast and far a virus can spread in our globalized era.

The outbreak raises fears of a global pandemic, but it's too soon to say whether one will develop. The swine flu has been deadly in Mexico, where the disease is suspected in 149 deaths. So far cases in the United States have been much milder, which is a positive sign.

However, health officials here and in other countries are treating swine flu as a serious health threat, and the precautions that they're taking make sense. In the United States they include moving 12 million doses of flu-fighting drugs from a federal stockpile to states, where they will be more readily available, and screening passengers at airports.

Louisiana has activated its statewide surveillance system, encouraging doctors to consider swine flu in patients with fever and respiratory illness if they've traveled to Mexico or counties in California and Texas where there have been confirmed cases.

As of Monday, Louisiana had no cases, but making sure that health care providers are vigilant will increase the chances of catching infections early.

There's a role the public can play, too. Health officials are urging people to wash their hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing, and to use tissue to cover their mouths and noses when they cough or sneeze. People who are sick should stay home from work or school and limit contact with other people.

That's pretty basic advice -- no different from what's generally issued during cold and flu season. But those same simple measures can help fight more formidable germs, too, and it's the healthy and smart thing to do.