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WASHINGTON DC - Rep. Dave Loebsack issued the following statement
on the public health emergency in Iowa after the US Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) confirmed the first case of H1N1 influenza in Iowa. The results
of a second probable case reported on Wednesday have come back negative.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports that a total of seven
additional probable cases in the state are undergoing confirmatory testing.

"H1N1 has been spreading across the country, and I am concerned but not
surprised that it has reached Iowa," said Congressman Loebsack. "Today the
CDC has confirmed that an individual in Eastern Iowa has an H1N1 infection.
I will continue to work with local leaders to make sure that every precaution is
being taken to help prevent the spread of this disease. Iowans  should remain
cautious but there is no cause for panic. The most important thing that Iowans
can do right now is to remain calm, take proper health precautions, and follow
the advice of health professionals. We are prepared to address this situation
and existing resources such as funding for state and local public health officials
and an existing stockpile of antivirals have already been deployed to states."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 44 million courses of the
stockpile have been shipped with Iowa receiving over 109,520 courses of
antivirals and over 446,405 units of personal protective equipment for
public health officials.

"While we are prepared for this situation, we must rely on the advice of
experts and continue to work to make sure that the people of Iowa have the
most up-to date and accurate information. Iowans must remain calm and
continue to cautiously practice measures to prevent the spread of this
disease."

Health officials remind Iowans to take precautions to help stop the spread
of the flu:

Wash hands frequently, and always wash hands after coughing or sneezing.

Cough or sneeze into a tissue, or your sleeve or elbow, not into your hands.

If a person feels ill: stay home. Children should not go to school if they
feel ill.

If you have an illness in which your temperature rises above 100 F, along
with other symptoms, including a cough, sore throat, and extreme tiredness,
contact a health care provider to be seen and tested for this virus, if
needed, in a way that will not endanger the health of others.

An influenza hotline - 1-800-447-1985 - has been established to answer
public questions about the disease. A separate hotline for health care
providers is available at 1-866-282-5815. More information on H1N1 is
also available at http://loebsack.house.gov/  www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu and
www.idph.state.ia.us  www.idph.state.ia.us.