Swine flu still a concern

Swine flu is back in South Carolina. It's not that the flu ever disappeared, but for a short time South Carolina and Hawaii were the only states in which the disease was not listed as being widespread.

That has now changed as H1N1 flu in the Palmetto State is once again at the highest level. Some think that the flu was never below the "widespread" level, just that doctors were so overwhelmed that they got behind in their paperwork to report the illness.

This disease continues to wreak havoc with the health of people around the world, and the call earlier this year that it is pandemic was certainly the right one.

Although it has been with us for months, and the latest outbreak has been strong, this is no time to let our guard down. Precautions still need to be taken. Those in the highest risk categories - pregnant women, children, health workers and those with asthma and other lung conditions - should get inoculations as soon as possible.

Parents should keep their children home from school if they display symptoms and refrain from sending them back until the fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. Look at the website for the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) for information on how to deal with the flu whether for you or a member of your family.