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(CBS 5 / KCBS / AP / BCN) The Santa Clara County Health Department has activated its public health center to mobilize its resources following an outbreak of swine flu that has killed at least 20 in Mexico and sickened 8 others in Southern California and Texas.

Officials say that while there have been no reports of any cases in the South Bay, they are taking extra precautions due to the area's large Hispanic population.

"We're concerned with the potential connection with the large outbreak in Mexico. We want to make sure (our residents) are aware (and) there's a good deal of travel back and forth from our Mexican population," said Santa Clara County Health Officer Marty Fenstersheib.

Fenstersheib said a physicians alert will be sent out Friday afternoon asking doctors to look out for the following symptoms: fever, cough, muscle ache and gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients who present any of those symptoms will have their throats swabbed.

In Napa County, health officials said Friday afternoon they are taking steps to identify and track the previously unknown strain of swine should it spread to Napa County.

Two children, ages 8 and 9, contracted the swine flu in Southern California but have recovered, said Dr. Mark Horton, Director of the California Department of Public Health. There have been a total of six reported cases in California, four in San Diego County and two in Imperial County.

All eight of the California and Texas residents recovered from symptoms that were like those of the regular flu, mostly involving fever, cough and sore throat, though some of the seven also experienced vomiting and diarrhea.

Napa county hospitals and emergency departments have been alerted to watch for patients who report flu-like symptoms and to take samples that will be tested for the swine flu A (H1N1) virus, Napa County health officials said.

"For now, residents should continue typical flu precautions, such as frequent hand washing, sneezing or coughing into your sleeve rather than your hands, staying away from people who are ill and staying home when you are sick," Dr. Karen Smith, Napa County Public Health Officer said in a news release.

"Local, state and federal officials are working together to access the scope of the virus' spread and the severity of the illness it causes, and we'll alert people quickly if more stringent precautions become necessary," Smith said.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly causes influenza in pigs, Napa County health officials said.

Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs, health officials said. Typically, humans who contract swine flu have been in contact with or close to pigs but with the new strain, contact with pigs does not appear to be necessary, Napa County health officials said.

Neither of the two children in Southern California who contracted the swine flu had contact with pigs, California Department of Public Health said.

People who develop an illness with fever and respiratory symptoms should contact their health care provider, the Napa County Public Health Division said.

Napa County Public Information Officer Elizabeth Emmett said "there is no indication yet that we should be concerned about any particular population (in Napa County)."

Migrant workers who work in Napa and Sonoma counties during the grape-growing season have likely been here since bud break a few weeks ago, Emmett said.

Some of them, however, may be concerned about relatives in Mexico, Emmett said.

While Mexico has confirmed at least 20 deaths from swine flu, 40 other fatalities were being probed, and at least 943 nationwide were sick from the suspected flu.

Epidemiologists are particularly concerned because the only people killed so far were normally less-vulnerable young people and adults. It's possible that more vulnerable populations, infants and the aged, had been vaccinated against other strains, and that those vaccines may be providing some protection.

It's not known if the seasonal flu vaccine Americans got this winter protects against this type of virus. People should wash their hands and take other precautions, CDC officials said.

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