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Salinas, Calif- The World Health Organization's announcement of the H1N1 pandemic does not mean the virus which has been mild in most cases has become any worse.
"We've seen less then a 150 deaths. The numbers and the spread puts this into a pandemic category" says Monterey County Health Department Dr. Hugh Stallworth.
The Monterey County Health Department is encouraging businesses and school districts to have a plan put in place. But Cherry Bean Barista Demetrius Ramon says it is business as usual.
"We keep the place pretty clean all the time, anyways. From the time I clock on to the time I clock off that's the majority of what I'm doing is cleaning."
Researchers believe that the virus spreads rapidly during cooler months and although its summer it is winter in other parts of the world. Dr. Stallworth says that come this fall the United States could be facing a new mutated virus.
"H1N1 could cross with avian influenza; it kills people 62% fatality rate. Then we got an aggressive virus that kills people and spreads quickly."
The Monterey County Health Department says that education is key, encouraging people to wash their hands properly, to cover their mouth while coughing, and staying home if they feel sick.
According to the Monterey County Health Department a H1N1 vaccine is currently being developed.
The health department has met with school districts through out the county about shutting down on any given day if the virus rapidly spreads during the next school year. Along with preparing businesses on how to function if there is limited staff. The most common symptoms of H1N1 are fever, coughing and sore throat.
