Mayor’s wife diagnosed with H1N1

“This is the worst I’ve ever felt in my life!”

By Carrie A. Mizell

Leslie Thigpen

Tightening in her throat, shortness of breath, coughing, and a strange headache are just a handful of the H1N1 symptoms Leslie Thigpen said she experienced Saturday.
Wife of Trenton Mayor Glen Thigpen, Leslie has been employed at Lancaster Correctional Institute as a library technical assistant since April.
Leslie said that when she first heard three inmates had confirmed cases of H1N1, she thought the library was probably safe, since it is wiped down with bleach four times a day.
“As soon as we found out, the warden allowed us to bring bleach wipes in, but I just knew that as much as we disinfected, there was no way,” Leslie said.
The mother of two young children, whom she hasn’t seen since Saturday, said on Tuesday morning that she may have just gotten it from the air while walking across the property.
Leslie went to Chiefland Medical Center on Monday, where her fears of H1N1 were confirmed.
“Before I even told them my symptoms, they gave me a mask to put on once they found out that I work at Lancaster,” Leslie explained. “They hadn’t even run the test yet.”
On Tuesday Leslie was resting at home quarantined from the ones she loves. Her husband was reportedly sleeping on the couch and her children were staying at her in-laws.
Leslie said she was given two antibiotics Tamiflu and Rimantadine and told to stay away from everyone for at least seven days after the symptoms start.
“My nose is constantly running, I’m coughing, nauseous and vomiting,” Leslie said. “I’ve also been running a fever of 102 to 103.”
“It’s just miserable!”
According to Gretl Plessinger, communications director for the Florida Department of Corrections, there are three confirmed cases of H1N1 at Lancaster Correctional Institute. At press time seven inmates were in the infimary, all showing symptoms and 11 were being isolated because they had been sick, but were feeling better. According to Plessinger, after three cases of H1N1 are confirmed within a facility, no additional testing is done. If an imate shows signs of H1N1, they are treated; but there will be no other official confirmations of cases within Lancaster Correctional Institute. Plessinger explained that there is no way of knowing how many employees have also tested positive for H1N1 because they would have gone to a medical facility outside the compound.
The Gilchrist County Health Department and The Florida Department of Health offer the following recommendations to help decrease the spread of this illness and flu-like illnesses:
* People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others.
* Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
* Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.
People experiencing coughing, fever and fatigue, and possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician. If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider to discuss whether you need to be seen in their office or the emergency department or stay home. For more information you may call 352-463-3120.