Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Tuesday over the spread of the swine flu that’s affecting the country.

According to an e-mail sent out by Nancy Montgomery, coordinator of student health services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided information regarding the swine flu.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza.

It’s not known to infect humans, but that information has changed since March and April 2009 when cases of human swine flu cases have been reported.

The CDC states that swine flu is contagious and can be spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with the influenza.

Typical symptoms of swine flu are fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

There is no vaccination for the flu yet, but there are certain tips and steps that any person can take to protect themselves:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Trash the tissue immediately.
• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and after you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• The incubation period from contact with swine flu and when you become ill is approximately seven days.

Recently on the news today there have been two deaths that are being investigated with swine flu being the cause of them.

A 33 year-old man from Long Beach died Saturday at a Bellflower hospital with suspicions of swine flu symptoms.

The other death was a 45 year-old man from La Mirada who died April 22 in Norwalk.

According to Contra Costa Times, the death of the La Mirada man was from causes of pneumonia, but the Long Beach case is still being investigated.

Mercurynews.com have reported that there are 13 confirmed cases of swine flu in California alone, but the flu remains deadliest in Mexico with 149 death cases and 2000 who have been sent to hospitals with flu-like symptoms.

Schwarzenegger’s office has made a statement that, “While there is no need for alarm, it is the governor’s top priority to limit the swine flu’s spread as quickly and effectively as possible.”

No case of swine flu at Cerritos College

“As of 11:30 a.m. April 30 there has been no case of swine flu at Cerritos College,” Director of Public Affairs Mark Wallace said.

There are protocols already set up in the event of any disease outbreak confirmed on campus.

“We would send out an email to the entire campus telling the students and staff that there is a case on campus,” Wallace said, “The school would also clean the classrooms or work areas that the infected person attended.”