Unalaska, AK – There are no reported cases of the swine flu in Unalaska, but the clinic is prepared if the disease does enter the community. Clinic nurse Aaron Highfill said the community already has high instances of infectious diseases because of the international nature of the town and therefore the swine flu does not present a new threat.

"If you do get sick, if you have a fever, a cough, which are the most common symptoms of any type of influenza, then we tell people, Don't come into the clinic because then you'll infect everyone else here. Stay home, drink lots of fluids, and rest,'" said Highfill. "If you think you have swine flu--you have these symptoms, you've been around someone who's recently traveled to an infected place--then we want you to call the clinic. We'll arrange to have somebody come and swab your nose. They actually stick a Q-tip up your nose and send it into the lab in Anchorage and they grow it out and see if it's the actual swine flu."

Getting tested is free. Some symptoms of concern are fevers above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and a consistent cough. The clinic also has nearly 500 doses of the flu treatment medication Tamiflu on hand but will only give it to very sick people. Highfill says most flu cases are cured without treatment other than typical pain relievers.

Public health nurse Lorna Pletnikoff said the swine flu is currently not affecting the community or the state.

"Although you should be concerned, we don't have to get terribly frightened right now. We need to stay calm."

The best way to prevent transmission is to wash your hands frequently. Most bacteria and viruses are picked up on your hands when doing everyday things, like opening doors.

If the influenza does spread widely and becomes a pandemic, Unalaska is the regional drop point for the Strategic National Stockpile. A pod of emergency supplies for the surrounding communities would be delivered here and then distributed. However, the disease is currently not very wide spread.

At last night's city council meeting clinic director Sonia Hanforth-Kome said that the clinic is communicating with state authorities about the threat. She said that Unalaska is seen as likely entry point for the disease into the state.

As of Wednesday morning, the Center for Disease Control reported 91 laboratory-confirmed cases in the United States and one death of a 23-month old child who recently arrived from Mexico. Swine flu cases have been found in eight different countries. Though the CDC issued a travel advisory for Mexico, the World Health Organization has not recommended any travel limitations. Most of the pneumonia-related deaths in Mexico cannot be directly linked to the swine flu.