State health officials reported last week that two military Soldiers in the area were positive for H1N1 flu. One military person was treated at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center with symptoms, but that confirmed test report has been revised to a negative for H1N1.

Medical personnel at DDEAMC identified a patient on April 24 with a flu-like illness, whose rapid test was positive for influenza A. Immediately, the patient was treated and precautions were taken to prevent the spread of the illness. The patient's test sample was sent to the Centers for Disease Control for definitive flu strain typing. The test revealed that the patient had seasonal influenza, not the H1N1 virus.

Because appropriate precautions were taken at DDEAMC, spread of the virus was contained and the patient recovered without additional medical intervention. There have been a small number of patients seen at DDEAMC with flulike symptoms, but to date no one evaluated has been a confirmed case.

"The high level of awareness of H1N1 among all the health care providers at Eisenhower ensures that any Soldier, Family member or reappropriate tiree coming into the medical center with flu-like symptoms are immediately evaluated, treated and tested" said Brig. Gen. Donald Bradshaw, commanding general, DDEAMC. "Monitoring this situation is our first priority," said Bradshaw. "Most of our military and civilian

workforce lives throughout the CSRA, and we are committed in our efforts to

keep our population healthy, to ensure a healthy environment for everyone."

As a precautionary measure, all unit commanders on Fort Gordon have been reminded to send anyone with flu symptoms to the clinic for treatment and testing immediately.

Fort Gordon operations staff has a contingency plan in place to respond to and recover from an increase in flu cases, in the event this should become a greater health emergency.

"With our large number of Soldiers living together in barracks, we are always concerned about the spread of any contagious disease," said Brig. Gen.Jeffrey Foley, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon commanding general. "Fort Gordon has designated buildings for isolation and treatment of Soldiers ill with the flu, to separate them from others in barracks until they recover. This response plan has been in place for some time and was revisited when the current flu cases appeared."

Fort Gordon has designated a barracks and a gymnasium for possible isolation/living quarters for Soldiers who do not have off-post housing.

In addition, a separate gymnasium has been identified to be used for medical TRIAGE, only if necessary.

DDEAMC will continue to monitor patients closely for flu-like symptoms, in accordance with CDC recommendations.

For specific medical information call Jennifer Chipman, (706) 787-5301.