Published: June 25, 2009 08:48 pm      

One probable case of H1N1 in County

Test sample has been in the laboratory for weeks but has not been confirmed

It might not be safe to stop washing your hands, just yet.

But Henderson County remains virtually swine-flu free, according to statistics kept by the Texas State Health Department. The virus is also known as the H1N1.

Nearby Smith County has a half-dozen confirmed cases.

Henderson County did have one probable case which has been in the state laboratory for several weeks, but it was not confirmed in early March.

Texas State Health Department Assistant Press Officer Emily Palmer said it has never been confirmed.

She said people still need to exercise do diligence in washing their hands, covering their noses when the sneeze and remembering to stay home when they are sick.

According to the TSHD web site, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health officials are investigating H1N1 influenza cases in people in several U.S. states, including Texas.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with H1N1 influenza viruses, the web site states.

The World Health Organization declared a pandemic alert phase six on June 11. The designation defines a worldwide outbreak of H1N1 flu, with more than 75 countries now reporting cases, according to TSHD.

The health department does updates once a week on every county in Texas, and the results can be found on www.texasflu.org.