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Childersburg Job Fair Canceled As a Precaution, Other Events Will Continue
In a Thursday night swine flu update, Alabama officials said what they know about this pandemic is changing by the hour.
Most people are waiting for more samples to come back from the state lab.
In Childersburg, the sign outside the recreation center announced Friday's job fair was canceled.
In Talladega County, the unemployment rate is 12 percent. This fair, like the two before it, was expected to draw a large crowd and long lines.
"We were expecting eight to nine hundred people here coming from five or six different counties, and we just needed to side on the side of caution," said Storey.
But closing the Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport isn't as easy. TSA is working with the Department of Homeland Security to give anyone with flu-like symptoms a mask and to post alerts from the Center for Disease Control.
So far, there are 109 confirmed U.S. cases in 11 states. That doesn't include Alabama where three cases are suspected.
The latest probable case in Alabama involves a 20 year old Montgomery woman who falls into the same age range as many of the 12 Mexicans who died.
But state officials don't know what to expect, so they're asking children, seniors, and people with weak immune systems to be extra cautious.
"We're suggested they really want to avoid attending a large group gatherings," said Dr. Donald Williamson, Alabama health officer.
That suggestion isn't stopping the Schaeffer Crawfish Boil from continuing as scheduled.
"Everything is boiled, so you don't have to worry about anything in the food 'cause you are going to boil anything out of there and everyone wears gloves," said Dr. Jack Schaeffer, the event's organizer.
But after canceling the job fair, Storey can still understand people questioning their upcoming plans.
"Some don't really understand why. Some are glad we canceled it," said Storey who plans on rescheduling the job fair.
Hand sanitizer will be available at the Crawfish Boil and We Love Homewood Festival.
Other event organizers will decide to cancel or postpone events if swine flu cases are confirmed in the Birmingham area.
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