A disease expert says the swine flu in the U.S. should not affect those people infected any more than regular influenza. There are currently 21 confirmed cases of swine flu in five different states of the U.S.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Jerry Gibson. “From the 21 confirmed U.S. cases of this swine virus, we see that the spectrum of disease, how sick people get, is about like regular seasonal flu. It’s now unusually severe.”
Gibson says for now, that alleviates a major fear over the severity of the disease in the U.S. ” That’s good news, as long as this holds true as long as we see more cases. That means that most people who get it will get sick for a few days, then they’ll get better.”
But health experts point out that even the regular seasonal flu is far from the common cold. In the U.S.last year, 36,000 people died from the seasonal flu and more than 200,000 were hospitalized. Most of those hospitalized were older than age 65.
Disease expert says swine flu risks similar to those of regular seasonal flu
Virus may have been present among Newberry Academy students before trip to Mexico
The Newberry Academy remains closed today for a second day as a precaution after some students returned from Cancun, Mexico, with flu-like symptoms. The 13 students and an adult returned last Monday. Headmaster Robert Dawkins says that most of the students missed class for a majority of last week, and thought nothing of their symptoms until they started hearing reports of swine flu deaths in Mexico. Dawkins reveals they had reason to believe that the group’s illnesses began developing before they even left for Mexico. ”One of the young ladies we found out gone on the plane to go over there sick, with these same types of symptoms.”
And Dawkins says another student also became ill. “Then one of the seniors who did not go got sick on the day these kids were flying back in. He got sick and had not been around them yet, and it was the same exact symptoms.”
On Saturday, 11 of the 12 sick students attended their senior prom, possibly exposing a dozen students from other schools.
(Dawkins interview from Jimmy Coggins, WKDK Radio, Newberry)
Horry County wildfire recovery process begins
The wildfire that has consumed over 30 squares miles in Horry County is now over 90 percent contained, but the devastation left behind by the massive blaze that started last Wednesday remains. 70 homes were destroyed and over 100 damaged. Insurance companies expect claims from the disaster to top $25 million. South Carolina Insurance News Service Executive Director Allison Dean Love says estimates will increase as people continue to file claims and adjusters assess the damage.”As soon as they could, insurance adjusters were getting back into the area on Friday and writing the checks and helping their customers get back to normal so they’re well into the recovery process. Insurance companies have catastrophe response teams that have been in the area since last Thursday night and Friday responding so they’re well underway in helping their customers get back to normal.”
Love says it was important that Governor Sanford declare a state of emergency during his on-site visit to the devastated area last Thursday. “After Governor Sanford declared it an emergency and so did Scott Richardson, state department of Insurance director, that enabled insurance companies to get licensed adjusters in from other states and to temporarily bring in additional adjusters if necessary in order to more quickly get out into the field to help help handle customers’ claims.”
Love says most owners whose homes were completed destroyed by the fire have already received some monetary assistance from their insurance companies. “Last Friday insurance adjusters were out writing checks for additional living expenses and trying to help their customers get back on their feet. Some of those checks may have been for $5-thousand dollars just to allow the homeowners to get into a hotel and to give them some money yo work with while they’re still adjusting their claims.”
Love says more than a hundred claims have been filed and more are expected.
Democratic officials elected at Convention on Saturday
The South Carolina Democratic Convention was held this past weekend and while potential candidates had an opportunity to be seen answering the question of who might seek the party’s nomination in the upcoming elections, electing party officials was the main topic on the agenda.
Chairwoman Carol Fowler was re-elected to chair for her second term. Rising star, Bakari Sellers was elected to first vice chairman while Chairman of the Greenville County Democratic Party, Kevin Mertens, was elected as second vice chairman. Clemson student Jamarr Brown was elected to third vice chairman, a position reserved for individuals under the age of 30.
Mertens said the party is positioning itself for a run at the Governor’s Mansion. “I do think we have a great shot at winning this year,” according to Mertens. “Especially with having the second-highest unemployment in the country. Jobs, infrastructure, and the way our schools are so we have the highest unemployment and we’re at the bottom in schools. There has got to be a correlation between that.
“So yes, we have got a lot we have been working on.”
Mertens says he is confident that voters will see his party as the party fighting for the people of South Carolina saying, “we’ve been; fighting for public education, fighting for jobs, fighting for better roads and bridges, fighting for health care. And the other side has, more or less, been worried about putting amendments on the ballots for divisive issues. So I think, eventually, people will see that we are really trying to work hard and accomplish things.”
Two possible contenders for the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in the upcoming election were on hand giving them an opportunity to work the crowd. Senator Vincent Sheehan of Kershaw and Mullins McLeod, a Charleston attorney both made their presence felt. Mertens was quick to point that they are still potential candidates until it is made official.
“At least two of the potential candidates fr governor were there working the crowd. Senator Vincent Sheehen and Mullin McLeod of Charleston were there but I call it potential because, until people file next year, we really don’t have any candidates yet.”
The S.C. Progressive Voter Coalition also made their voices heard encouraging Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg to run for governor. “She says she is not interested,” said Mertens, “The Progressive Caucus is who is demonstrating with signs on her behalf.
“She is definitely a hero to the Progressive Caucus and she is a hero to many of us but she has been active in the Progressive Caucus and they were certainly encouraging her. Unfortunately, she had to be out of town on business so she wasn’t there.”
Hundreds of signs reading, “Run, Gilda, Run”, were passed out at the door.
Berkeley Senator Grooms seeks opinions on gubernatorial bid
State Senator Larry Grooms of Berkeley has announced he is “considering” a run for governor.
“I love this state, I honestly do, and I want to see it on the right direction and when I see other people sharing the same beliefs and values that I do, when I see folks standing up for the first time, and waving those flags that say ‘liberty.’ It brings something inside of me up to the surface that says, ‘hey, let’s move this thing up a little more than what we have been doing, let’s go ahead and set the wheels in motion, let’s see if there are enough folks out there to help me wage a successful campaign,’ and if the answer is yes, I will be running,” says Grooms.
The 12-year Republican veteran of the state senate says liberty, to him, is all about choices. Grooms says there are two types of politicians-
“Those that believe in the free choice of the individuals and those that believe that individuals aren’t capable of making the correct choices, that’s why we need government to make those choices for them,” says Grooms.
He says there are too many politicians in the legislature right now who believe more in government, lacking freedom and liberty.
The Post and Courier of Charleston on Sunday reported Grooms is forming an exploratory committee.
“That is what I call on folks across the state to let them know what I am thinking, to get their thoughts; ‘is it a good idea, bad idea, what is wrong in our state, do you think there’s something I can contribute?’ and if the answer continues to be ‘yes,’ then I’ll build enough support, then that is something I will definitely do,” says Grooms.
Grooms says there is no timeline on his exploratory committee. The 2010 gubernatorial election is November 2nd, Governor Mark Sanford is term-limited, meaning he cannot seek another term.
