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Swine Flu
Please be sure your CCHC is a part of the California Health Alert Network (CAHAN). The CAHAN Helpdesk phone number is: (877) 376-4767. World Health Organization Raises Pandemic Influenza Alert to Level 6 Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic influenza Alert level from phase 5 to phase 6. This action marks the first time that an influenza pandemic has been declared in 41 years. This upgrade was sparked by an increase in the number of novel H1N1 infections seen in countries outside of the two WHO Regions -- the Americas (Canada, U.S., and Mexico) and Europe. With the sustained person-to-person spread now seen in these two regions, plus at least one additional region (the region that includes Australia), by definition (see the WHO website) the advance to Phase 6 was warranted. This WHO action does not change planning and response efforts that are currently taking place in most of your clinics and at the State or federal levels. This upgrade is more significant for those countries that have not yet seen cases. These areas must aggressively begin planning for a response to the introduction of the virus into their communities. The following is information released today from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). I hope you find this useful.
The federal government will also be sending a letter from Secretary Duncan (Department of Education) and Secretary Sebelius (Department of Health and Human Services) to all K-12 schools today urging them to prepare for the potential for novel H1N1 to further impact schools, families, and communities in the fall. Schools are urged to review and update emergency management plans and to pursue local interagency collaboration, particularly with local health officials. While the timing of this letter and the WHO declaration described above are coincidental, the concurrence of these two events is synergistic. To keep up with H1N1 Influenza news, please visit:
(This information provided courtesy of Dr. Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., Public Health Officer, San Diego)
Testing Update as of 5/12/09 The State has shifted their focus away from outpatient testing to more targeted testing based on the following criteria:
Remember: testing should only be done on individuals with the following symptoms or combination of symptoms with fever. If there is no fever present – testing is not required:
It is highly recommended that the following also be used as criteria for warranting a test for Swine Flu H1N1 virus:
REMINDER: Rapid Test Kits It has been determined that the Rapid Tests Kits are not as sensitive as need be to confirm the H1N1 virus. In the case of the nine confirmed cases of Swine Flu in New York, only 3 were reported positive after taking the Rapid Test. To that end, the California Department of Public Health advises that Rapid Tests Kits may not be the optimal way of testing probable Swine Flu cases. Additionally, it must be recognized that we are also in the throes of seasonal flu. Therefore, some of these cases could be the normal H1 or H3 virus and the Rapid Test Kit does not always detect the difference. Given the low sensitivity of Rapid Kit Tests, the CDPH is not advocating they be used. FYI...Re-vaccinating ER Staff There is no evidence that providers of care need to be revaccinated if they took the vaccination in the Fall of 2008. If your caregivers were vaccinated last Fall, that vaccination should provide adequate protection against this new strain of virus. In addition to the information provided on this call, CPCA wants to emphasize how important it is that you, as providers, work through your local health departments to report significant new developments, any suspected cases of CCHC patients infected with swine flu, or if you have questions. To find the number for your local health department, please visit the California Deparment of Public Health website Stay in Touch with CPCA CPCA wants to gather and share important information about Swine Flu management with our member clinics. Please email Nora O’Brien at nobrien@cpca.org or Darcel Harris at dharris@cpca.org if your clinic experiences:
Additional Resources
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