Local agencies aren’t panicking yet about the swine flu outbreak, but they are taking several precautions and are urging the public to do the same.

No cases of swine flu, which has killed and sickened hundreds in Mexico, had been reported in Stanislaus County as of Friday morning, though a 31-year-old woman in Tracy is believed to be infected with the virus.

With the federal and state governments declaring public health emergencies, the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency issued notices urging residents to guard against the flu, mostly by exercising good hygiene and extra caution.

At the Del Puerto Health Center in Patterson, patients exhibiting symptoms of swine flu — which include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches and fatigue — were being triaged outside in their cars starting Wednesday.

“The last thing we want is for them to come into the clinic,” said Dr. Eric Ramos, the health center’s medical director.

Ramos urged people exhibiting these symptoms to stay home. They can be triaged by phone, he said, and in most cases people do not require specific treatment unless symptoms worsen dramatically. He said over-the-counter cough medicines and the like are often all that are prescribed.

“Don’t panic,” Ramos said. “Most of the time, this comes and goes as a nasty virus in the upper respiratory area. You have a cough. Your body aches. You feel like somebody ran you over with a truck.

“If after two or three days you’re getting worse, having shortness of breath, coughing up phlegm, then you need to get evaluated and treated,” Ramos said.

As of Friday, 146 cases of swine flu had been reported in the United States, including 50 in New York, 28 in Texas and 16 in California. A toddler in Texas who came from Mexico has so far been the lone swine flu-related death in the U.S.

Outbreaks have also occurred in Canada, England and other countries. The World Health Organization declared a Phase 5 outbreak, the second-highest on its scale, and said a pandemic could be imminent.

The Patterson Joint Unified School District, meanwhile, wrote in a message to parents that hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms and school nurses were on alert and would refer any sick children to a doctor.

Dave Hodge, the school district’s director of special education, also manages the district’s nursing staff. He said the district would consider closing schools — as others have — in the event of a local outbreak, but the decision would be made in conjunction with county health officials.

According to the WHO, the majority of the cases in Mexico have occurred in otherwise healthy young adults, which is not typically the case with a normal flu.

Because of the swine flu’s ties to Mexico, Ramos said, Patterson and its high Latino population could be more vulnerable than other cities. Many cases in the U.S. have been linked to people who recently traveled to Mexico.

“Spring break just got over; people have gone down to Mexico for visits,” Ramos said. “Certainly we are concerned about any of those patients and those contacts.”

Contact James Leonard at 892-6187 or james@pattersonirrigator.com.

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At a glance

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency recommends the following precautions to protect yourself from the swine flu virus.

• The county recommends the pneumococcal vaccine for people 50 and older, because the flu’s most serious complications are related to pneumonia.
  
  
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze, and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
  
  
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand cleaners, especially after you cough or sneeze.
  
  
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  
  
• Stay home from work or school if you get sick, and limit your contact with others.

For more information, visit www.stanemergency.com.