TRAVERSE CITY -- The annual swell of migrant farm workers into northwest Michigan looms, and local health officials are following developments in a deadly swine flu outbreak that's spread from Mexico -- where many local workers have roots -- into the northern U.S.
Health workers said they're preparing to confront the influenza strain locally, but said no outbreaks have been reported in northern Michigan.
"We are definitely monitoring the situation," said Jeannine Taylor, of the Grand Traverse County Health Department.
Local farm workers with ties to Mexico -- the apparent source of the epidemic -- also are following the flu outbreak. Daisy De la Fuente works at Leelanau Fruit Company near Suttons Bay and has relatives in Mexico. She said her grandmother traveled to Texas to visit family and decided to remain in the U.S. because of the swine flu outbreak.
"She was going to go back home, but she saw people with the masks and everything, the pictures all over the Internet, and she decided to stay," De la Fuente said.
Adolfo Villanueva, an industrial mechanic at the fruit processing plant, grew up near Mexico City and still has family there. He's lived in the U.S. since 1984 but hopes to visit his family this year if swine flu problems subside. He's not overly concerned with the outbreak because his family hasn't contacted him to warn of problems.
"I'm kind of not really worried, because if something happened they should call me," he said.
Local health officials said it's too soon to determine the local risk. Two likely cases of swine flu have been reported in Michigan.
"Generally speaking, most of the migrants don't come up until later in the spring," said Bill Crawford, health officer for the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department.
Seasonal workers typically don't enroll their children in local schools during the spring, he said, although there are summer education programs for migrant families.
Crawford also said much of the area's migrant population comes north from Florida, where no cases of swine flu have been documented.
Judy Williams, executive director of the Northwest Michigan Health Services Inc. farmworkers clinic in Traverse City, said most migrant workers in western and northern Michigan work in a network of fruit farms, not in livestock farms that are more susceptible to the swine flu virus.
"Most migrants who come to this area are in fruit, not in livestock," Williams said. "We're very cautious about not jumping to conclusions about sources."
Williams also said it's too early to determine whether the area is at risk for an outbreak.
"I think it's way too premature to say one way or another," Williams said. "We're monitoring the situation, as we should."
Williams also said the public should take standard precautions to prevent the spread of viruses, including frequent hand-washing, avoiding close contact with others who are coughing or appear ill, and avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth. Those with a respiratory illness should stay away from places like school or work to avoid spreading their infection to others.
Gladys Munoz, language and cultural diversity services director for the farmworkers clinic, is concerned some people will blow the scare out of proportion.
"It's not a pandemic, it's not anything like that," she said. "But when you listen to Fox News, it's like, 'oh my gosh, we're on the verge of destruction here.'"
Munoz said people shouldn't get overly anxious or generalize all Mexicans.
"If we think, they come from Mexico, they must be sick, well, that's not true," she said. "We create an illusion of fear, and that's what I'm concerned about with all this."
Swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs caused by a type A virus that commonly causes influenza outbreaks among pigs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Such viruses don't normally affect humans, but human infections can occur and public health agencies have determined this strain can be passed among humans and cause illness.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu can also cause underlying chronic medical conditions to worsen.
In Mexico, more than 150 deaths are suspected to be tied to swine flu, while a growing number of cases were reported Tuesday in the U.S.
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
Kobe was 'rooting for Patriots' in Super Bowl
Sandusky on having to stay inside and people turning on him
Wookie Sensation
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera?
Sandusky makes a statement
Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera?
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip
Toddler forced to run half-naked in snow
Halle Wants to Leave the Country
Northern Lights shine above earth
Plane makes perfect belly landing
Kris Jenner New Face of Arousal Oils
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
Trending: Zip it!
What's in Steve Jobs' FBI file?
SJP Talks About Replacing Demi Moore in 'Lovelace'
Over 200 dead dolphins wash ashore
Lady Gaga's Battle With Bulimia
