ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The H1N1 strain of influenza is here in Baldwin County.

According to an Alabama Department of Public Health Web site, as of 1:45 p.m. on Aug. 12, Alabama has 1,125 confirmed cases of novel H1N1 influenza, bringing the total number of probable and confirmed cases in the state to 1,141. One death has been associated with the novel H1N1 influenza virus in Alabama, according to the site.

And Baldwin County accounts for 29 of those cases so far. The count began in April, when the illness was declared a “pandemic” by the World Health Organization.

According to an e-mail fromTerry Wilhite, a spokesperson for the Baldwin County School System, “We have had some spotted instances of flu and illness in schools.”

The illness has been reported in at least one church-based school in Robertsdale.

Sometimes called “swine flu,” the illness is much like seasonal influenza. It’s a separate strain of the flu that plagues people during the winter. According to the CDC, the symptoms are, “similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.”

While most cases are mild, there have been reports of death from this strain of flu, mostly in people weakened by some underlying disease.

While there won’t be a vaccine until October, there is much people can do to halt the spread of the illness, says Jim McVay, the state's director of health promotion and chronic disease.

And unless the illness proves to be more virulent than anticipated, schools will remain open, Wilhite says.

“The first thing, said McVay, in a telephone interview, “is if a child or adult has any indication of a fever, they should not be in a group setting.”

Schools, McVay says, “Will do the right thing.”

That includes isolating a sick student from his or her classmates and calling parents to pick up their youngster.

Students will not be allowed back into school until their temperature, without Tylenol or other fever-reducing agents has been normal for 24 hours. Tylenol or acetaminophen will help reduce the achy feeling and pain from the flu. Youngsters should not take aspirin because of the risk they will develop Reyes Syndrome.

An immunization for H1N1 will not be available until October, McVay says, and while there will be enough for everyone, he says, there is a list of those who should receive the first doses .

“The target group will be children aged 6 months to young adults of 24,” McVay said.

He then added that expectant mothers should be vaccinated, something that should be safe for the developing fetus, and then people 25 to 64 who have conditions that put them at high risk for flu complications.

Even with the vaccine, influenza will spread.

Youngsters “shed” the virus or are infectious for about 24 hours “before the fever comes,” McVay says, Adults are not as infectious, but may also shed the virus before symptoms appear. That’s why immunizations are so important.

And prepare yourself — it looks like getting immunized against influenza is going to take two, possibly three injections. The first will be for seasonal flu, the second is an H1N1 shot, and McVay says an H1N1 booster may be required

And if you or your youngster should become ill?

“Call your physician, and follow his or her advice,” said McVay.

It’s also important to protect others.

“Keep that person home and don’t let others visit,” McVay said.

And for the sneezing and cough that accompanies influenza, McVay recommends tissue or washable cloths.

And to reduce your chances of catching any type of the flu, it’s a good idea to wash your hands frequently. Wash with soap and warm running water for the time it take you to sing “Happy Birthday” or use (at least 60 percent) alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

“You need to keep rubbing until your hands are dry,” said McVay of the sanitizer’s use.