With the number of confirmed cases of H1N1 Swine Flu coming out of last weekâs Penny Arcade Expo nearing 100, the Washington State Department of Health told Kotaku that they are concerned, but not actively tracking the cases.
âWe are always concerned, but weâre not tracking individual cases,â said Gordon MacCracken, with the health departmentâs Communications Office.
Penny Arcade Expo organizers told Kotaku earlier this week that there was a confirmed case of the flu at the show. Today PAâs Robert Khoo said that number has jumped to nearly 100.
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Last week there was an outbreak of the flu at Washington State Univeristy with 2,500 people feeling sick, according to KOMO News.
While MacCracken said it is possible that the outbreak at WSU and the cases reported at PAX are connected, he thinks it is doubtful. The university is located in the other corner of the state, he said.
MacCracken said that the state health department does not track individual cases of Swine Flu until they reach the level of hospitalization or death. But he added that doesnât mean it isnât serious.
âSeasonal flu is serious,â he said. âRoughly 36,000 people die each year. [Swine flu] isnât necessarily worse, but thatâs not to say it isnât serious.â
The National Center for Disease Control told Kotaku that donât track individual cases either anymore, leaving that to local doctors and health officials.
The Swine Flu vaccines arenât due to arrive in Washington State until next month, MacCracken said.
âIf someone is feeling as though they are coming down with something they should try to stay away from other people and consult their doctor,â he said.
Khoo says that he hopes that people will be mindful next year at PAX and make sure to use the hand sanitizer dispensers located throughout the show.
