Our daycare closed early yesterday...1 confirmed and 2 suspected cases of H1N1. My boss's neighbor's 3yo child is in a daycare in Del Ray (Alexandria). Several children are suspected of having H1N1 there too.
Evidently, doctors are no longer testing for H1N1 unless you are admitted to the hospital (at least in VA, so says the pediatrician of one of the suspected cases). So, there is no real way of tracking this influenza except for the gravely ill.
The data on this CDC page conflicts wtih the data I read on the states public health pages, but could be due to different reporting dates.
Officials are being overly cautious and recommending a 7-day incubation period, even though they aren't sure exactly how long incubation could last. The seasonal flu's incubation period is 2-4 days. According to the Alexandria Health Department, you are contagious beginning 24 hours prior to the onset of symptoms (right, so you find out a day late that you were contagious).
The Health Department also says that children under 5 are at greater risk of developing complications from this influenza, and that you should talk to your pedi about whether an antiviral before the onset of symptoms is warranted.
Re: XP: H1N1 (swine flu) in Alexandria daycares/preschools
this is also what i'd heard, but our pedi wants to see our son. i'm taking him in this afternoon. he's been coughing for the last several days, but no fever and he doesn't appear to be sick, other than the cough.
ds had a rash and has bad dry skin...I was being overprotective and he had alot of bug bites...they told me to make sure and put bug spray on him...still learning...he is great though
Hope your LO get feeling better quickly!