(October 7, 2009)

ALICE--Health professionals and community leaders in Alice got a lesson in swine flu prevention and treatment today. They met at Christus Spohn Hospital to get the information they will be passing on to others.

Alice is a small area compared to Corpus Christi. The county has no health district so Spohn brought in a doctor to update leaders about the virus.

Jim Wells County has only had one swine flu case at William Adams Middle School. It happened a few weeks ago so doctors and area leaders got a lesson about the virus at Spohn Hospital in Alice.

"We discussed how it's transmitted, basically through the cough and collection of wet droplets and on our hands," said Dr. Earl Mathew, an Infectious Disease doctor. 

At the lunch meeting, Dr. Mathew even demonstrated to doctors and area leaders how to cough and sneeze. They stressed the importance of washing your hands to slow down the spread of the virus.

"They taught us how to take care of ourselves, take care of other people from getting this virus. If we all do our work together, it will be fine," said Sheriff Oscar Lopez of Jim Wells County Sheriff's Department. 

The swine flu vaccine isn't available yet in Jim Wells County, but Dr. Matthew said it will be here soon.

"The vaccine is coming out as quickly to this H1N1 as we've ever produced and it will be widely distributed as it becomes available," Dr. Mathew said. 

City leaders believe this session was helpful and they plan to share information with their employees.

"I think it's important that we continue to protect the people who have constant contact with the public and to be able to give them information how to protect themselves," said Dr. Rito Silva, who is the Alice Mayor.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com