A 25-year-old Tuckahoe man is the third person confirmed to have had the swine flu in Westchester, county Health Department officials announced this afternoon.

The man, who’s identity is not being released, previously traveled to Mexico. He was previously reported as a probable case. The confirmation was expected as 99 percent of probable cases do go on to be confirmed, spokeswoman Caren Halbfinger said.

All of the individuals who have been confirmed with the H1N1 virus in Westchester have had mild symptoms.

Alfalfa sprouts are the latest food on a growing list that might make you sick. The sprouts were contaminated with salmonella, according to the “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”:http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58e0507a1.htm.

At least 228 people in 13 states have gotten sick from eating the sprouts. The Food and Drug Administration hasalerted sprout growers and retailers that a seed supplier was withdrawing from the market all lots of alfalfa seeds with a specific three-digit prefix.

There’s a whole host of events happening at and sponsored by White Plains Hospital this month as they celebrate their annual Wellness Month. Special attention is being paid to chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. Find out more about what you can do to prevent these conditions or manage them if you’ve got them. The events are free and open to the public:

May 9: Enfermedades y Lesiones Diarias, 2 p.m., Westchester Chapel Community Church, 214 Central Avenue, White Plains.

May 14: Modern Prevention: How to Collaborate with Your Doctor, 7 p.m., The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, Five Renaissance Square, White Plains. Registration required. Call (914) 681-2650

May 16:  Top 10 African-American Health Concerns, 10 a.m., Thomas H. Slater Center, 2 Fisher Court, White Plains.

May 18: Arthritis & Joint Replacement, 11 a.m., Rye YMCA, 21 Locust Avenue, Rye

May 20: Arthritis & Prevention: 10:30 a.m., YWCA, 515 North Street, White Plains, Alzheimer’s Disease. 6 p.m., White Plains Hospital Center, 41 E. Post Road, White Plains.

May 22:  Web Surfing for Seniors: Finding Health Information, 2 p.m., White Plains Hospital Center, 41 E. Post Road, White Plains. Limited Seating: Call (914) 681-2650 to register

May 27:  Senior Health & Fitness Day, 10 a.m., Burke Rehabilitation, 785 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains. Call (914) 681-1249 to register.

The Ruth Taylor Award Fund is now accepting applications for scholarship awards available to Westchester County graduate students in the fields of social work or public health.

The scholarship fund was established in tribute to Ruth Taylor upon her retirement as Commissioner of Public Welfare of Westchester County and in recognition of her nearly four decades of outstanding service to the County in the field of social welfare and health.

Eligible individuals must be residents of Westchester County pursuing graduate level education on a full-time basis at accredited U.S. colleges or schools in social welfare or public health.  For the 2009-10 academic year, awards will range between $1,000 and $5,000 for tuition or maintenance, or both.

The application deadline is June 8, 2009.

Financial need, public service and scholastic capacity are part of the evaluation criteria. Recipients must maintain the minimum cumulative University GPA for the duration of the award.  Awards are issued annually, and recipients are eligible on a one-time only basis. A change in major or enrollment status will result in loss of the scholarship award.

For more information, e-mail Karen Bonaparte, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at United Way of Westchester and Putnam: kbonapar@uwwp.org.

Classes and all extracurricular activities at Rye Country Day School can resume immediately after health officials ruled that two students with swine flu didn’t pose as great a risk as previously thought.

The decision was based on the latest advice from state and federal officials, Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Lipsman said.

The 870-student prep school told families yesterday that it would close for two weeks. As recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed so did the advice from local officials.

“As of 2 p.m. today, state and federal health authorities advised local health departments that because cases of swine flu in the U.S. have been comparable to seasonal flu, there is no need to close schools,” Lipsman said.  “I know the changing advice has caused confusion and posed a disruption and hardship to families and I sincerely regret that. My earlier recommendation and this announcement have been based on the latest information available to us from state and federal health authorities.”

Meanwhile, a 25-year-old Tuckahoe man is the latest probable case in Westchester. The man, whom officials are not identifying, is the first adult case in the county. He had been in Cancun, Mexico April 17-24. He became ill on April 27 and is recovering, county health officials said.

The Mental Health Association of Westchester will show a new documentary by actor and producer Joe Pantoliano called No Kidding, Me Too! on May 18 at the Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street.

Pantoliano, famous for movies including the Matrix, Memento, Empire of the Sun and Risky Business, aims to tear down the stigma and shame often associated with mental illness.

A pre-showing reception will be held at 6 p.m., the movie will begin at 7 p.m. Pantoliano will be available to answer questions. Tickets for the movie are $10.

The name No Kidding, Me Too! is based on the exchange that Pantoliano explains often occurs whenever an individual discloses their history of mental illness to another person.

Disclosure is a moment of vulnerability that often is followed by reassuring affirmation, Pantolino says.

Statistically one in every four Americans experiences mental illness at some point in their lives. A work in progress, the documentary follows people from all walks of life with different mental illnesses.

The Mental Health Association of Westchester County, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote mental health in Westchester County through advocacy, community education and direct services.

Federal officials are preparing to tap into the Strategic National Stockpile  to meet the demand for Tamiflu and other antiviral medications prescribed to treat swine flu.

The stockpile has adequate supplies of the medication, but consumers might have temporary spot shortages until supplies are replenished, according to officials.

The federal government is purchasing additional supplies of these products to refresh the Strategic National Stockpile so that it can continue to meet our public health needs.

The “FDA”:http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/H1N1flu/shortages.html is working with manufacturers of these medical products to increase production.

Federal officials are asking consumers not to buy the medications if they do not have symptoms of the illness.

Federal health officials are warning dieters not to take  fat-burners and other weight loss supplements made by Hydroxycut products. The over-the-counter products have been linked to one death and 23 reports of serious health problems, including liver damage, according to the “Food and Drug Administration”:http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW02006.html.

The products are made by  by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y.

The products include:

Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
Hydroxycut 24
Hydroxycut Carb Control
Hydroxycut Natural

A Rye child is Westchester County’s first probable case of H1N1 swine flu, health officials announced this afternoon.

The child was among three people in the county suspected to have the new virus. County health officials are awaiting confirmation of the case from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

“This is not a surprise,’’ said Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Lipsman. “We expected this and there likely will be more confirmed cases of swine flu in Westchester. People should remember that each year, millions of people get seasonal flu, and most recover after about a week and do just fine. Thus far, almost all swine cases in the US have been mild.’’

The Westchester County Department of Health is not releasing identifying information about the child to protect the privacy of the child and the child’s family.

The child developed fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat on April 25. The child did not require hospitalization and is now recovering at home.

The child has not been in school since April 24, which was before the child became sick. There has been no increase in absenteeism in the school the child attends. Based on the latest information available, the Westchester County Department of Health has not recommended closing the school the child attends.

Of the two other Westchester samples sent to state health department laboratories, one from an 85-year-old woman is negative and another from a second Rye child is pending.

County Executive Andy Spano, along with Lipsman and Anthony Sutton, Commissioner of Emergency Services, will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as needed. For prevention information for you, your family or business, go to www.westchestergov.com.

The CDC has determined that this swine flu virus is spreading from person to person and is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu – mainly through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is offering advice to people wondering what to do if a family member takes ill with flu-like symptoms. Here are some of the more important points:

Q: How long should I stay home if I have swine flu?
A: The CDC says “stay home for seven days after the start of illness.”

Q: What medications should I give my child with flu symptoms?
A: Don’t give aspirin to children or teenagers who have the flu. The CDC notes “this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.” Double-check labels for all cold and flu medications to make sure they don’t contain aspirin.
Don’t give a child younger than 2 an over-the-counter cold medication without speaking first to a doctor or nurse. Safest for children in this age group is “using a cool-mist humidifier and a suction bulb to help clear away mucus” from the nose, the CDC says.
For older children, drugs such as Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, Nuprin and Aleve can be used to relieve symptoms but not to address the underlying infection. If you’re using multiple medications, make sure you don’t double-dose your child.

Q: When should I seek emergency care?
A: If the sick person has difficulty breathing, chest pain, purple or blue discoloration of the lips, seizures, is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down, has signs of dehydration (dizziness when standing, absence of urination, a lack of tears when infants cry), or becomes confused or less responsive.

Q: How can I prevent the spread of flu at home?
A: The CDC recommends that the sick person stay in a separate room, if possible, with the door closed. If the person needs to be in a common area of the house, he or she should wear a surgical mask. If possible, have only one adult take care of the sick person. Ask everyone at home to clean his or her hands regularly with soap and water. Have family members use paper towels for drying hands or a dedicated cloth towel for each person.

Q: What cleaning regimens are recommended?
A: Wash sheets and towels and dry on a hot setting. The CDC says “avoid ’hugging’ laundry prior to washing to prevent contaminating yourself. Wash hands after handling dirty laundry. Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by the sick person and wash hands after. Regularly disinfect all surfaces, and clean eating utensils thoroughly.

Q: Should I be taking anti-viral medication if someone in my home is sick?
A: “Anti-virals can be used to prevent the flu, so check with your health-care provider” to see if you or other people in the household should take the medications, the CDC says.

Q: Will I need antibiotics?
A: Bacterial infections such as pneumonia or ear infections can accompany the flu and require treatment with antibiotics. Especially at risk are people with chronic illnesses. “More severe or prolonged illness that seems to get better but then gets worse again may be an indication that a person has a bacterial infection,” the CDCO says. If you’re concerned, call your doctor.