CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Officials at Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi were informed by the Corpus Christi Health Department Wednesday that a crewmember has tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus.
The crewman went to the emergency room Sunday after complaining of common flu-type symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and fever. After evaluation and testing by a local hospital staff, the crewmember was released and instructed to go home to recover. Test results confirmed the presence of the H1N1 flu virus, and the Corpus Christi Health Department requested that the crewmember remain isolated at home.
In response to the test results, Coast Guard leadership in Corpus Christi notified its personnel and established detailed, preventative measures to reduce the potential spread of the virus. In a joint effort with the U.S. Navy Preventative Medicine office at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, the U.S. Coast Guard has been able to conduct several medical screenings and evaluations.
Four other Coast Guardsmen have been screened but have not tested positive. All Coast Guardsmen have been instructed to immediately contact Coast Guard medical staff if they begin to develop any flu-like symptoms.
“Coast Guard members risk their lives to save others from harm, and it is certainly stressful to see one of our own members become ill,” said Lt. Kevin Hill, medical officer at Air Station Corpus Christi.
Coast Guard operations in southern Texas have not been hindered in any way.
