TOPEKA — Tuesday was Kansas Preparedness Day and state officials say the biggest preparation this year is for a possible outbreak of H1N1 swine flu. The swine flu presents a risk because humans have no natural defenses against it, said Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s health director. He said that so far, the cases have been relatively mild. The Centers for Disease Control reports increased flu in the southeastern states, a likely result of schools there starting earlier than those in other parts of the country. ABC’s health editor Dr. Richard Besser says there’s not doubt about which strain of flu it is – it’s all swine flu and anyone who has had flu have had swine flu. Officials in Topeka said that there’s a potential that half of the Kansas workforce could be incapitated and essential services could be disrupted by an outbreak of the swine flu.
