Don't Panic: Swine Flu Confirmed in Los Angeles County

It's official: There are three confirmed reported cases of Swine Flu, aka H1N1, in Los Angeles County. The word comes from the County health department, who made the announcement last night. One case is a female student at Cal State Long Beach, whose status as "Swine Flu Sufferer" has been in question for several days now, and "the other confirmed cases are in residents of central and southeast Los Angeles," according to the Daily Breeze.

Health officials, however, stress that Angelenos need not panic; the virus is very similar to "the regular, seasonal influenza that we already know." CSULB is not closing, and in reaction to the case on campus, the university is continuing to provide other students and staff with information about how to protect themselves. Everyone is urged to was their hands with soap frequently, cover their nose and mouth when they sneeze, to stay home if they feel ill, and to eat well, exercise, and avoid smoking and alcohol--all common sense precautions recommended to stay healthy at anytime, but particularly important in the face of a known virus.