Health Alerts > 6/2/09- Flu Update

Date:  June 2, 2009

State/Local

�       We have been told of our first case of H1N1 in Allen County – the case was diagnosed via our sentinel site. No other details will be provided.  No other steps in terms of prophylaxis are necessary.

�       CDC recommends that state and local health departments, hospitals, and clinicians in regions with few or no reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection consider the following recommendations for testing of the following persons for novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection with a nasopharyngeal swab by PCR:

o        Patients presenting to providers participating in the US Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet) who meet the case definition of influenza-like illness (ILI), (ILI is defined as fever (temperature of 100°F [37.8°C] or greater) and a cough and/or a sore throat in the absence of a KNOWN cause other than influenza). OR

o        Patients admitted to the hospital with an ILI.

National/Global Updates:

�       U.S 10,053 confirmed cases and 17 deaths.  Globally there are 15,510 cases and 99 deaths.  Pandemic phase remains at level 5.

�       .Case Definitions for Infection with Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus

�       A confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an ILI with laboratory confirmed novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by one or more of the following tests:

ð      real-time RT-PCR

ð      viral culture

       A probable case of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an ILI who is positive for influenza A, but negative for human H1 and H3 by influenza RT_PCR

Optional

�       A suspected case of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person who does not meet the confirmed or probable case definition, and is not novel H1N1 test negative, and is/has:

a previously healthy person < 65 years hospitalized for ILI        OR

ILI and resides in a state without confirmed cases, but has traveled to a state or country where there are one or more confirmed or probable cases        OR

          ILI and has an epidemiologic link in the past 7 days to a confirmed or probable case.

�       Other new guidance:

o      Correctional facilities:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/correctional_facilities.htm

o      Post mortem care: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/post_mortem.htm

o      General business and workplace plans:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/workplace.htm

Please feel free to call with any questions.          
Deb McMahan, MD