MBayFluWatchMonterey Bay's Pandemic Flu Watch...keeping Monterey Bay communities informed about influenza |
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MBayFluWatchMonterey Bay's Pandemic Flu Watch...keeping Monterey Bay communities informed about influenza |
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The California Department of Public Health reported that the state has recorded 2,100 hospitalizations, including 592 fatalities, of influenza A (H1N1) cases, as of July 31, 2010.
The California Department of Public Health reported that the state has recorded 2,099 hospitalizations, including 592 fatalities, of influenza A (H1N1) cases, as of 30 June, 2010.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of May 1, the state has recorded 8,959 hospitalizations, including 579 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
(No updates have been released since 1 May 2010)
California Institute of Technology researchers published a report in Science, providing a molecular explanation for the evolution of antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) resistance. The team of biologists – led by David Baltimore, Caltech's Robert Andrews Millikan Professor of Biology and recipient of the 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, and postdoctoral scholar Jesse D. Bloom – undertook a study to pinpoint molecular changes accounting for the spread of resistance to Tamiflu among strains of the A (H1N1) influenza virus. According to the report, virus mutation H274Y is what causes resistance to the antiviral drug Tamiflu. While the existence of this mutation has been known for over a decade, the report states, it was not until the 2007-2008 flu season that resistant A (H1N1) viruses with the H274Y mutation began cropping up all over the world. By 2009, the mutation had caused resistance against Tamiflu in essentially all seasonal A (H1N1) influenza virus strains.
The researchers also aimed to clarify how Tamiflu resistance spreads. Bloom stated that: "We hope that understanding the basis of the evolution of Tamiflu resistance in seasonal H1N1 might help in understanding what might be needed for H274Y to spread widely in these other strains as well." The researchers found a secondary mutation in the neuraminidase gene of Tamiflu resistant strains, and an examination of flu sequences showed that two secondary mutations had cropped up before the spread of the H274Y mutation. According to researchers, the survival and spread of subsequent occurrences of the H274Y mutation was due to the existence of these "pre-adaptive mutations."
According to Baltimore, the study findings represent how "combining an understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying evolution with the extensive sequencing data on historical isolates of influenza virus can bring about a deeper understanding of the challenge that this virus presents to the human population," and "shows that mutations are not necessarily 'good' or 'bad,' but that their effects may depend on the context in which they appear." The full article can be accessed at: http://media.caltech.edu/press_releases/13352.
The Monterey Daily Observational and Situational Evaluation (DOSE) Report listed a number of severe alerts in its recent surveillance activities, including an increased number of patients exhibiting symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI). The Monterey County Health Department reported 16 patients exhibiting ILI symptoms, which caused it to raise the alert level to "severe" on May 23.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of May 1, the state has recorded 8,959 hospitalizations, including 579 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
(This information is updated monthly.)
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of April 3, the state has recorded 8,917 hospitalizations, including 578 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
(This information is updated monthly.)
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of March 6, the state has recorded 8,837 hospitalizations, including 553 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
(This information is updated monthly.)
Heather Darcy of Disaster Recovery News reports that disaster recovery (DR) experts assert that the A(H1N1) influenza virus will have an impact on DR and business continuity (BC) planning for years to come.
Although the A(H1N1) virus was not as devastating in the Unites States as many had predicted, Information Technology (IT) organizations involved in DR learned several lessons. One is that the A(H1N1) virus made pandemic planning an IT issue in addition to a human resources (HR) issue. It also made clear that pandemics pose issues different from incidents such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or terrorist strikes, upon which many current disaster recovery policies are based. Jonathan Nguyen-Duy, director of risk management for Verizon, said disaster recovery planning for the A(H1N1) pandemic "made workforce continuity a bigger issue. Companies are more cognizant of the challenges around ensuring COOP [Continuity of Operations Planning] with a highly distributed and mobile workforce." He added, "It also raises ethical concerns for the first time -- which organizations should get priority per vaccines? Do they disclose that publicly? Who gets priority in the company? Does that cover family members, too?"
Harvey Betan, a business continuity planning consultant, said that the A(H1N1) pandemic raised awareness of the need to plan for a pandemic: "Suddenly, organizations realized that a pandemic was a serious possibility. Those organizations that had plans were able to modify them as the situation changed and others took the threat more seriously. I think many more pandemic plans exist now than 18 months ago." Nguyen-Duy added, "The low virulence of this latest pandemic has given us an opportunity to gauge what works and what needs to be addressed. One clear lesson is that continuity and business resilience are dependent on multiple systems that all have to be prepared in order to ensure continuity of operations throughout any incident -- from regular incidents like snow storms and power outages, to lower frequency but highly disruptive events like pandemics and hurricanes."
According to Betan, "The major lesson for business continuity planners has been that the timeframes we all expected were way off the mark. All organizations I know of had used the World Health Organization (WHO) Phases for timing the outbreak. We were all surprised at how quickly the pandemic went from Phase 3 through 6. Organizations have since modified their plans on what has been found to be a more realistic timeline. This is the case especially with multinational organizations."
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of March 5, the state has recorded 8,798 hospitalizations, including 546 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of February 27, the state has recorded 8,774 hospitalizations, including 542 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
Adam Mann of the Monterey County Herald states that despite decreased numbers of A(H1N1) infections, officials are continuing to urge residents to seek vaccinations. Flu activity is slightly lower than this same time last year, said Molly Hubbard, immunization program coordinator for Monterey County. However, she added that "you never know what is going to happen." Historically, she said, occurrences are not necessarily confined to "flu season," and clinics continue to see activity late in the year. "Though the virus appears to be in a lull, we never know when a particular wave may come back," said Monterey County health officer Dr. Hugh Stallworth.
Both Stallworth and Hubbard encourage residents to get vaccinated against the A(H1N1) virus. In October, vaccine shots were in short supply, with some people waiting hours in line to receive the vaccine. Hubbard said that there are now enough doses available for anyone who needs them. Even if a person shows no signs of the flu, they could pass along the virus to someone more vulnerable, she added. "You don't do it for yourself," she said. "You do it for the ones you love." A healthy person who has thus far evaded the flu is still susceptible, she said. As of January, this included more than half the U.S. population. Children are particularly vulnerable to the virus. Since April 2009, there have been 324 reported pediatric deaths from A(H1N1) across the United States.
Nationally, only one quarter of Americans have received the A(H1N1) vaccine. Yet many local pharmacies, clinics, ands doctor's offices have the vaccine, said Hubbard. The Monterey County Clinic Services offers free flu shots at the Seaside Family Health Center and the Alisal Health Center in Salinas. Additionally, school-based clinics have been set up across the county since the middle of January.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of February 19, the state has recorded 8,739 hospitalizations, including 527 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases. The Monterey County Health Department reported no new A(H1N1) cases this month.
Sue Dremann of Palo Alto Online News reports that county public health officials are asking residents to get vaccinated against the A(H1N1) virus as soon as possible as a third wave of the virus could be coming.
Many people have lost interest in getting vaccinated and are not taking the virus as seriously as they did in the past, said health department officials in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. But it is highly likely that there will be a third wave of A(H1N1) flu this year, and that the virus will not disappear completely, county officials say.
"I believe that a very high percent of children under age 10 who got a first dose of the H1N1 vaccine are either due or overdue for their second dose," said Dr. Scott Morrow, health officer for San Mateo County. "With a third wave of H1N1 flu likely to hit this year, I urge parents to get their children vaccinated, and I also urge anyone who has not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible."
It is important for children under age 10 to get two doses of A(H1N1) vaccine at least three weeks apart because two doses provide better protection against the A(H1N1) virus for the less mature immune systems of younger children. But with the recent decline in A(H1N1) flu cases, many parents have yet to get their children the second dose of A(H1N1) vaccine, health officials said.
Pandemic flu outbreaks have historically come in waves. A(H1N1) infections first appeared in the spring of 2009 and were followed by a second wave in the fall of 2009.
San Mateo County public health officials are reaching out to residents of high-risk communities by phone, urging everyone to get vaccinated against the A(H1N1).
"The California Department of Public Health estimates that 4.3 million Californians have already been infected with the H1N1 flu. As of January 8, 2010, 14.9 million doses of vaccine had been shipped to health care providers in California. But California's population is more than 36 million people, which means millions of Californians have not gotten sick or received the vaccine and are still at risk for getting the H1N1 flu," Santa Clara County officials said in a recent public announcement.
Elizabeth Weise of USA Today reports that at the height of fears over A(H1N1) infection in fall 2009, some vaccination opponents claimed it was safer to be infected with the A(H1N1) virus than to be inoculated against it. But data from California show that getting the flu was drastically far more dangerous. One in every 10,000 Californians who contracted A(H1N1) died, statistics from the State Department of Health show.
Out of 13 million Californians who were vaccinated for A(H1N1), three people died. In one case, the patient already had the flu and a streptococcus infection when vaccinated. One was a cardiac patient whose death, the coroner ruled, was related to pre-existing heart problems. The third death is under review by health officials. Thus, the death rate for those vaccinated at the highest is one in 4.3 million, and more likely either one in 13 million or even 0 in 13 million, depending on what a review of the final patient's medical chart finds.
For people still hesitant about getting vaccinated, this is excellent news, says Carol Glaser, a viral-disease expert with the Department of Public Health's Center for Infectious Diseases in Richmond, California. When parents who are wary of vaccinating their children come to her clinic, she tells them there's no reason to worry: "You now have the luxury of 3½ months of data that couldn't be more reassuring." Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, "This is a very safe vaccine. We have an awful lot of data, unprecedented amounts of data about the safety right now. And I think that parents really should be reassured."
Flu levels are low, but people should still get vaccinated, says Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the week ending with January 30, flu-related deaths were still at epidemic levels, according to the CDC.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of February 13, the state has recorded 8,703 hospitalizations, including 515 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of February 5, the state has recorded 8,641 hospitalizations, including 506 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
Jacob Simas of New America Media reports that reported cases of A(H1N1) infection declined sharply in California over the last several weeks, causing state health officials to downgrade the status of the pandemic from "widespread" to "sporadic."
However, the same officials warned of the possibility that the A(H1N1) virus could mutate. This could result in a third wave of infections coinciding with the traditional flu season over the next several months. "It's unpredictable," said Dr. Ben Sun, an epidemiologist at the California Department of Public Health. "We don't want to spread fear where there doesn't need to be any, but the flu virus mutates all the time. It may cause more sickness and deaths, which is why we're still really pushing for vaccinations."
Central Coast News reports that A(H1N1) influenza activity remains high in Monterey County. Currently, influenza-like activity is approximately two times higher in comparison to the same time last year. "Over half of the US population is still susceptible to pandemic A?(H1N1) 2009 influenza because they have not yet been infected or have not received the vaccine. That means a lot of Monterey residents are still at risk," said Dr. Hugh Stallworth, Health Officer for the Monterey County Health Department.
The Monterey County Health Department and the Visiting Nurse Association are collaborating to provide Monterey County residents more opportunities to become vaccinated at local schools. Vaccine clinics (locations and dates listed below) are open to everyone in Monterey County 2 years of age and older. The vaccine will be free. Each clinic will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm during the weekdays.
In addition to the public school-based clinics, A(H1N1) vaccine is also available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the following Monterey County Clinic Services locations. Injections are given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Persons of all ages are eligible to be vaccinated at these locations:
For more clinic information, see the Monterey County Health Department Website at www.co.monterey.ca.us/health, or call Monterey County 211 or the Flu Information line at 831.796.1280.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of January 29, the state has recorded 8,589 hospitalizations, including 498 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
Central Coast News reports that A(H1N1) influenza activity remains high in Monterey County. Currently, influenza-like activity is approximately two times higher in comparison to the same time last year. "Over half of the US population is still susceptible to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza because they have not yet been infected or have not received the vaccine. That means a lot of Monterey residents are still at risk," said Dr. Hugh Stallworth, Health Officer for the Monterey County Health Department.
The Monterey County Health Department and the Visiting Nurse Association are collaborating to provide Monterey County residents more opportunities to become vaccinated at local schools. Vaccine clinics (locations and dates listed below) are open to everyone in Monterey County 2 years of age and older. The vaccine will be free. Each clinic will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm during the weekdays.
In addition to the public school-based clinics, A(H1N1) vaccine is also available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the following Monterey County Clinic Services locations. Injections are given on a first-come,first-serve basis. Persons of all ages are eligible to be vaccinated at these locations:
For more clinic information, see the Monterey County Health Department Website at www.co.monterey.ca.us/health, or call Monterey County 211 or the Flu Information line at 831.796.1280.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of January 22, the state has recorded 8,535 hospitalizations, including 491 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
Central Coast News reports that A(H1N1) influenza activity remains high in Monterey County. Currently, influenza-like activity is approximately two times higher as when compared to the same time last year. "Over half of the US population is still susceptible to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza because they have not yet been infected or have not received the vaccine. That means a lot of Monterey residents are still at risk," said Dr. Hugh Stallworth, Health Officer for the Monterey County Health Department.
The Monterey County Health Department and the Visiting Nurse Association are collaborating to provide Monterey County residents more opportunities to become vaccinated at local schools. Vaccine clinics (locations and dates listed below) are open to everyone in Monterey County who is 2 years or older. The vaccine will be free. Each clinic will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm during the weekdays.
In addition to the public school-based clinics, A(H1N1) vaccine is also available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the following Monterey County Clinic Services locations. Injections are given on a first-come first-served basis. Persons of all ages are eligible to be vaccinated at these locations:
For more clinic information, see the Monterey County Health Department Website at www.co.monterey.ca.us/health, or call Monterey County 211 or the Flu Information line at 831.796.1280.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of January 15, the state has recorded 8,437 hospitalizations, including 479 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
KSBW reports that Monterey County Health Department officials are urging people to get the A(H1N1) vaccine to prevent a third wave of viral infections. The California Public Health Department will be launching a media and ad campaign next week to encourage people to become vaccinated for both A(H1N1) and the seasonal flu.
Monterey County health officials said that they have more than 160,000 doses of the vaccine available, and the supplies are no longer reserved for people in high-risk target groups.
Although the news of the virus has tapered down during the past month, health officials are warning people not to become complacent. "People should definitely still be thinking about H1N1," said Molly Hubbard, of the Monterey County Health Department. "We have two times more flu activity this year than we did last year."
The CDC also said there are no signs that the virus has gone away, and that people should continue to follow basic hygiene rules, like covering coughs, sneezing into one's elbows, and staying home when sick.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of January 8, the state has recorded 8,308 hospitalizations, including 470 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued an announcement in which its director Dr. Mark Horton encourages those who have become sick with influenza to stay home for the holidays in order not to infect others. The announcement quotes Dr. Horton as stating: "During the holiday season, we enjoy spending time with family, friends and many others. Whether you're with them in a plane, a car or at the dinner table, remember good hygiene to prevent spreading infection. Don't let the flu ruin the holiday season for you, your loved ones or your fellow travellers." For more information on healthy travelling, visit CDPH's respective information page at: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Pages/h1n1travel.aspx.
Central Coast News reports on a Monterey County Health Department announcement stating that its supply of seasonal flu vaccine is nearly depleted. Accordingly, the Monterey County Health Department has not scheduled any further walk-in clinics for the seasonal flu. This year, local health care officials distributed the seasonal flu vaccine earlier than usual to make room for the influenza A(H1N1) vaccines. The announcement states that pharmaceutical companies may release another round of seasonal flu vaccines in January, "but there's no telling how many of these vaccines will make it to Monterey or Santa Cruz County." Nevertheless, the Monterey County Health Department urges those interested in becoming vaccinated against seasonal flu to check with their health care providers, such as the Clinica De Salud, which may still have some seasonal flu vaccine left for its established patients.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of November 21, the state has recorded 6,474 hospitalizations, including 354 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
Leslie Griffy, a writer for Californian, reports on a recent CDC statement claiming that influenza A(H1N1) is widespread in fewer states than during the week of November 9. Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Hugh Stallworth, however, warns that a slight slowing of reported infections does not mean the illness has peaked.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of November 14, the state has recorded 6,069 hospitalizations, including 318 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
Californian reports that the Monterey County Health Department is inviting children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade to participate in a poster contest designed to draw attention to staying healthy during the current flu season. Students may choose one of the following themes: Wash Your Hands, Cover Your Cough, or Stay Home When You Are Sick. Students can use either English or Spanish when creating their poster. Art work may be submitted through December 4 and winning posters will be printed and distributed throughout the county. More information about the contest is available at: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/health/Publications/pdf/Stay%20HealthyPosterContest.pdf.
Central Coast News reports that on November 7, Monterey County health officials held a free vaccination clinic at Hartnell College in Salinas. This is the first clinic to begin administering the 50,000 influenza A(H1N1) vaccine doses that have arrived at Monterey County. Monterey County Health Department officials distributed the vaccine to high risk populations (pregnant women, individuals aged two through 24 years of age, and individuals under 65 years of age with chronic lung conditions). Before the doors opened at 10 am, nurses determined which people in line belong to these high risk populations. On November 9, Monterey County Health Department announced that it will receive 220,000 additional doses of influenza A(H1N1) vaccine by the end of November or the first week of December. Once these doses are on hand, there is sufficient vaccine to vaccinate approximately 60 percent of Monterey County's population against influenza A(H1N1).
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of November 7, the state has recorded 5,380 hospitalizations, including 297 fatalities, of influenza A(H1N1) cases.
Leslie Griffy, a writer for Californian, reports that Monterey County Sheriff and Health Department issued special guidelines for Halloween that included tips on how to prevent the spread of influenza A(H1N1) virus. Health officials recommended passing out candy directly to trick-or-treaters rather than letting them reach into a bucket of sweets and urged children not to share masks or other costume pieces.
Molly Hennessy-Fiske, a writer for Los Angeles Times, reports that Los Angeles County free influenza A(H1N1) clinics' staff is overwhelmed because they are vaccinating people who do not belong to high risk populations. County's health officials are busy trying to handle the growing lines and therefore have not tracked how many vaccine recipients belong to the federal-designated priority groups. Clinic staff members question those waiting in line, but rely on people's honesty about whether they are eligible to receive the vaccine.
State and federal officials recommend, but cannot mandate, that local governments vaccinate priority groups in the order designated by the CDC: pregnant women, people living with or caring for infants younger than six months, emergency medical services personnel and healthcare workers, children and young adults aged six months to 24 years, and people 25 to 64 years old suffering from heart or lung diseases, asthma, diabetes or weakened immune system. In Los Angeles County an estimated 5.5 million people belong to these categories, but only about 50,000 have so far been vaccinated.
The article quotes Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, the county's director of public health, as saying that "We thought it was important to get to as many people as quickly as possible. We were assuming that the private sector was going to be getting a lot more vaccine a lot faster than they did. How do those people feel when they came a long way and in many cases are part of a family? What do we say -- we'll do your children but we won't do you?" Fielding conceded that county officials failed to conserve vaccine supplies early on as they were unwilling to turn away those who had travelled and waited in line. By October 28, the county's clinics had faced a vaccine shortage, with only enough doses to stay open through November 4 instead of November 8 as the county had planned before. Fielding cautioned that as vaccine supplies dwindle, clinics' staff may vaccinate only those in the two groups considered at greatest risk, which are pregnant women and caregivers for infants younger than six months. Fielding also stated that as clinics run out of vaccines, they will close early and that Los Angeles County may cancel its flu clinics if vaccine shipments are delayed.
Leslie Griffy, a California reporter, writes that in an attempt to reduce the spread of influenza A(H1N1), Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula has decided to prohibit persons younger than 18 years to visit its patients. Hospital officials based this decision on the fact that children are particularly susceptible to influenza A(H1N1). The article also states that influenza A(H1N1) patient may receive up to two adult visitors a day.
Furthermore, KSBW reports that a day after Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula implemented these precautionary measures, Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz and Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital also announced that as a precautionary measure they also will limit the number of visitors. At Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, the new policy will prohibit all visitors younger than 14 years; patients in isolation units may receive up to two adult visitors per stay. Valley Memorial Hospital officials said information materials about the hospital's influenza A(H1N1) policy will be available at the hospital entrance and nurses stations.
Dominican Hospital's visitor policy will prohibit all visitors younger than 16 years. The age limit includes all patient care areas of the hospital and rehabilitation services, which include the birthing center and neonatal intensive care unit. Further, patients may receive up to two adult visitors at a time. The article quotes Nanette Mickiewicz, of Dominican Hospital stating that: "We have a family-centered approach to care at Dominican Hospital and realize that this restriction will impact families already dealing with the stress of having a loved one in the hospital. We also realize it will mean younger siblings will not be able to see the new baby immediately. However, our duty to the community mandates that we do what we believe is best for our patients and for the public's health."
Central Coast News report that Monterey County schools are taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of influenza A(H1N1), including sending letters containing information about the virus and holding flu clinics. Prunedale Christian Academy teachers, for instance, are encouraging students to wash their hands, use hand sanitizer, and clean their desks with Clorox disinfecting wipes. Students who become sick with influenza A(H1N1) have to remain home until no fever has been detected for 24 hours. According to the Monterey County Health Department, children are at a higher risk of becoming infected with influenza A(H1N1) than other groups. None of the Monterey County schools, however, has so far been closed.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of October 24, the state has recorded 4,047 hospitalizations, including 249 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases. According to the CDC, to date 1,000 Americans have died and have been 20,000 hospitalized due to influenza A(H1N1). For comparison, approximately 36,000 Americans die and 200,000 are hospitalized annually from seasonal flu.
Leslie Griffy, a writer for Californian, reports that Nob Hill Foods in Salinas may soon run out of seasonal flu vaccine supplies. Other seasonal flu vaccine providers in Salinas, such as Monterey County-run health clinics and Visiting Nurse Association Community Services, have so far not experienced a similar problem. Dr. Hugh Stallworth, Monterey County's health officer, explains the reasons behind occasional seasonal flu vaccine shortages: "One of the reasons we have been given is that some of the manufacturers have been shifting over to making the [influenza A(H1N1) vaccine] to satisfy that demand. We are seeing about the same number of cases throughout the summer and now into the fall. We've not had a letdown yet. There are still people being admitted into the hospitals; there are still people being put on ventilators and in ICU. In a month or so we are going to start see a rise in seasonal flu on top of the existing influenza A(H1N1) cases. It is going to become not so good."
California Department of Insurance reports that Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has announced that California 's six largest insurers have agreed to waive co-pays and deductibles so that their members can receive influenza A(H1N1) vaccine without spending out of pocket money. The article quotes Poizner as saying that "I am pleased that Aetna, Anthem/Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CIGNA, HealthNet, and United HealthCare/Pacificare have agreed to put the health of consumers first by waiving costs for the H1N1 flu vaccine during what we anticipate to be a tremendously difficult flu season. Action taken by these insurers will help us prevent the spread of what is a potential flu epidemic. Now that the insurers are easing the way, I urge their members to take advantage and get immunized. Policyholders should pay special attention to communications from their insurer to understand exactly what they will need to do."
According to CDC, the priority groups for vaccination are pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than six months, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of ix months and 24 years old, and people from 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for influenza A(H1N1) because of chronic health disorders and compromised immune systems. More information about influenza A(H1N1) vaccine is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of October 10th, the state has recorded 3,051 hospitalizations, including 219 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
KSBW reports that Dr. Mark Horton, the director of the California Department of Public Health, has encouraged people to receive vaccination against influenza A(H1N1) in the weeks ahead. He stated: "We face an unusual challenge that requires all of us to be prepared in the months ahead. Part of that response is staying informed, learning if you are in a targeted group for vaccination and making plans to get vaccinated as the vaccine continues to arrive in our state." About 400,000 doses of influenza A(H1N1) nasal spray vaccine arrived in California during the week of October 5th. In the coming weeks, the injectable version of the vaccine will also become available.
A limited supply of 4,000 doses of the influenza A(H1N1) Flumist vaccine arrived in Monterey County on October 8th. The Monterey County supply was delivered to 12 drug providers who have registered their requests for the vaccine and will distribute it to children, which is the first of the high priority populations. The county is expecting injectable A(H1N1) vaccine to arrive in the next few weeks, which will be administered to high priority populations comprised of pregnant women and health care workers.
KSBW reports that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued an executive order in support of California's efforts to combat influenza A(H1N1). The article quotes Schwarzenegger saying that: "California stands ready to combat what could be a very severe flu season with the threat of H1N1. The state of California is taking the H1N1 virus very seriously, and I urge every Californian to take it seriously too."
Californian reports on an announcement by Monterey County health officer Dr. Hugh F. Stallworth saying that the first 4,000 doses of A(H1N1) nasal spray vaccine (Flumist) will arrive in Monterey County starting on October 5th. According to Stallworth, "Limited amounts of live intranasal spray vaccine (Flumist) will be sent to approximately a dozen providers who have signed up for the vaccine and who routinely vaccinate young children." The article also quotes the county's immunization coordinator Molly Hubbard as stating that the injectable form of the vaccine will become available in mid- to late-October.
CBS 5 reports that the California Department of Education has released a manual to help schools deal with A(H1N1) influenza virus, as well as future influenza outbreaks. The "Pandemic Influenza Planning Manual" is a state-specific supplement to the guidance provided for schools by the CDC and the U.S. Department of Education. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell is quoted as stating that students, teachers, school staff, and school nurses have 30 to 60 days to review the manual and provide feedback.
The manual includes such information as resources available for preparedness and prevention; recommendations for notification and reporting procedures for students' dismissals; and estimation of fiscal impacts of extended school, district, or statewide student dismissals if ordered by a public health officer due to pandemic influenza.
O'Connell also encourages schools to practice well-known precautionary hygiene habits such as hand washing, sneezing into the arm, covering the nose and mouth, and using hand sanitizer.
KSBW Action News reports that Santa Clara Country decided to declare an emergency after eight people infected with the A(H1N1) influenza virus died. This decision allows the county to mobilize volunteers to help with A(H1N1) flu vaccinations. The report notes that local health officials expect A(H1N1) vaccine to be delivered to the county sometime in October. According to Santa Clara County health department estimates, 155 residents in the county are currently infected with A(H1N1).
Sunita Vijayan, a writer for Californian refers to an article in USA Today that discusses the decision to vaccinate about 11 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. The article quotes Dr. Kevin Ficella, the associate professor of family medicine and preventive medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York, as saying that leaving the immigrants unvaccinated against the A(H1N1) influenza virus would increase the health risk to everyone else and make it much harder to control an epidemic.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, in 2006 about 2.8 million illegal immigrants resided in California. No specific data is available about Monterey County illegal population, but a recent survey conducted in 40 California counties found that it has the fifth-largest percentage of immigrants. The article also quotes Dr. Hugh F. Stallworth, the health officer for Monterey county, as saying that his biggest priority is to distribute the A(H1N1) vaccine to those with an elevated risk, regardless of the recipients' immigration status. Stallworth said the Monterey County Health Department will spread word of the vaccine's availability through local Spanish and English media and by advising physician groups who serve the immigrant population.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of September 19th, the state has recorded 2,258 hospitalizations, including 174 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
Lisa M. Krieger, a writer for Oakland Tribune, reports that student health centers in Bay Area colleges are taking extraordinary measures to prevent A(H1N1) from spreading throughout campuses. Some schools, such as Santa Clara University, will offer isolated dormitory rooms, providing food in a special lobby, or even delivering food to students' rooms. At San Jose State University (SJSU), sick students who live nearby will be encouraged to return home and if they cannot, the university is ready to reopen one of its older dormitories to house ill students. SJSJU is also distributing small disposable thermometers to fraternities and sororities. "When you have a lot of young people living so close together, you have the potential for more rapid spread of respiratory viruses," the article quotes Dr. Ira Friedman, director of Stanford University's Vaden Health Center, in explaining the importance of colleges taking special precautions to address the threats posed by A(H1N1) influenza.
Under the doctrine of in loco parentis ("in the place of a parent"), universities and colleges bear some responsibility for students and, of course, they want them to stay healthy. They are therefore urging custodians to focus on the careful cleaning doorknobs, restrooms, and keyboards in computer labs. But other than after prevention, colleges' key strategy is to separate at an early stage the sick from the healthy. Federal officials have said that colleges should consider suspending classes if they experience major outbreaks. They are also urging schools to suspend any rules that might influence ill students to leave their beds — such as penalties for late papers or missed classes.
The article also refers to the American College Health Association's estimate that more than 80 percent of America's colleges and universities have reported students infected with the A(H1N1) virus on their campuses. Even though most A(H1N1) influenza cases are mild, running their course in one week, the virus is known to have claimed the lives of two college students, at Cornell University in New York and Troy University in Alabama.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of September 19th, the state has recorded 2,258 hospitalizations, including 174 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
The Californian reports that the Monterey County Office of Education on September 18 offered a half-hour of training to county school representatives today on dealing with A(H1N1) flu. The topics included the following:
What do I need to know about H1N1 virus?
How long does the virus live?
What can I do to help keep H1N1 from spreading through my school?
How can I keep my classrooms and schools clean and virus free?
How can I keep from getting H1N1?
What if someone gets sick at school?
How do I know if it is H1N1?
KICBA reports that the Diocese of Monterey County has sent a letter to all 85 churches in Monterey County to limit certain practices at this time in order to prevent the spread of the A(H1N1) influenza virus. For instance, the Bishop has asked not shake hands during greeting ceremonies, recommending nodding or bowing instead to avoid any physical contact. Also, parishioners are asked not to drink from the common cup of wine if they are sick even though wine will still be available during religious events. In addition, during the Eucharist priests are asked not to place the bread on the tongue, but in the hands those receiving the sacrament. Priests are also required to wash their hands before they give the Eucharist as it's part of their ritual and like everyone else, they are asked to cover their coughs or sneezes and stay at home if they are feeling sick.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of September 15th, the state has recorded 2,012 hospitalizations, including 167 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
California's Governor's Arnold Schwarzenegger's office reports that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged anyone interested in healthy living to join the fight against A(H1N1) influenza virus and challenged Californians to enter the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Film Fest - "Lights, Camera, Save Lives" - a competition to create a short video highlighting the steps to avoid A(H1N1) and seasonal flu. "This competition allows Californians to use their creative new media skills to develop innovative and effective videos that will remind all of us what steps we can take to slow the spread of both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus," the Governor was quoted as saying.
Both amateur and professional California residents are invited to create a 15, 30, or 60 second video that will motivate people to take steps that will help prevent the spread of A(H1N1) and seasonal flu. The video must promote washing hands, covering one's cough when sneezing, and staying home while being sick or getting vaccinated.
The competition, held in English and Spanish, has a grand prize of a $500 gift card provided by the non-profit California Immunization Coalition and four of the selected winning videos will air on television and be featured on Web sites. For contest details, including rules, resources and video ideas, visit this site, entry deadline to post videos is October, 16, 2009. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently conducted a similar contest. Entries can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/video_response_view_all?v=gteC4AALn08%20
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of 8 September, the state has recorded 1,806 hospitalizations, including 152 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
The Californian reports on an announcement made by the Carmel Unified School District, according to which a Carmel River School student has been diagnosed with an influenza-type infection, which may be due to the A(H1N1) virus. Similarly, Claudia Melendez writes in the Monterey County Herald that a student at Pacific Grove Middle school was diagnosed with an illness that could be caused by the A(H1N1) virus.
Schools in the region, however, still remain open, and students with flu-like symptoms will be sent home. Dr. Hugh Stallworth, the health officer for Monterey County, is quoted as saying "Because the virus is rather mild, there's minimal possibility of kids being hospitalized and being admitted to the (intensive care unit) and even worse. Therefore, we're not moving to close schools early — only if there's significant transmission in the school, then we would move to close the school."
Leslie Griffy a writer for The Californian, reports that Monterey County residents are hospitalized for A(H1N1) flu at a higher rate than Californians on average. In Monterey County for every 100,000 residents, 7.2 people have been hospitalized with A(H1N1) flu. According to California Department of Public Heath data, in California on average 4.39 people are hospitalized for every 100,000 residents.
Monterey County Health Department officials said they were not surprised that the rate of hospitalized people is higher than elsewhere, since young adults and older children are most prone to become infected with A(H1N1). The county's median age is in the 20s. In the past two weeks, 10 people have been hospitalized in Monterey County because of A(H1N1) flu.
KSWB news channel reports that Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) and Monterey airport continue to prepare for the spread of the A(H1N1) virus. Lara Shipley, a nurse at MPC, is quoted as saying "I made an MPC pandemic plan working in conjunction with Monterey city. I am also disseminating information from the Red Cross, and from CDC we have weekly updates." MPC will also host a flu clinic in October that will offer flu shots to students and faculty and it has posted signs urging students and teachers to cover their mouths when they cough, and hand sanitizers are available in every division center and bathroom. In addition, the college allows students to turn in class work online rather than in person if they become sick. At the Monterey Airport travelers are being alerted about A(H1N1) risks before they go through security.
California's Governor's Arnold Schwarzenegger's office reports that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged Californians to prepare for the upcoming flu season during his visit to Richmond public health laboratories. The Governor is quoted as saying "The State of California is taking A(H1N1) very seriously, and I urge every Californian to take it seriously too. We can all take important precautions to prevent getting sick or spreading the flu virus including covering your cough, washing your hands frequently and staying home when you are sick. Businesses need to be prepared that employees will not be in the office and parents need to plan for kids to be home from school."
The Richmond public health laboratories have played a critical role in monitoring and understanding the nature of the A(H1N1) virus. It was the first state public health laboratory in the U.S. to do A(H1N1) confirmatory testing. The laboratories are responsible for conducting screening and confirmatory testing, providing guidance to other labs in California, and monitoring the virus for changes.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of 1 September, the state has recorded 1,663 hospitalizations, including 144 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
CalPanFlu.org will be activated September 1. The 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) influenza vaccine is being made available in California through the California Department of Public Health in partnership with local health departments. Healthcare providers and organizations interested in providing this vaccine can pre-register to receive vaccine, place their initial vaccine request, and report doses used through this site. The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) influenza vaccine cannot be ordered through private organizations.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of 25 August, the state has recorded 1,528 hospitalizations, including 128 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
No unusual events to report. The California Department of Public Health reports that as of 18 August, the state has recorded 1,353 hospitalizations, including 115 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
No unusual events to report. The California Department of Public Health reports that as of 12 August, the state has recorded 1,057 hospitalizations, including 104 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
No unusual events to report. The California Department of Public Health reports that as of 5 August, the state has recorded 892 hospitalizations, including 92 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
No recent unusual events to report. The California Department of Public Health reports that as of 30 July, the state has recorded 699 hospitalizations, including 80 fatalities, of A(H1N1) influenza cases.
Note: In view of the statements made by the WHO and CDC, MBay Flu Watch will no longer publish counts of confirmed and probable cases of H1N1 flu in countries known to be affected by the pandemic. This will include the United States. Rather, we will follow WHO's suggestion and publish accounts of "unusual events;" which WHO notes are "indicators that might suggest alterations in patterns of disease severity or spread that might be signs of changes in the pandemic virus." At this time, there are no "unusual events" to report in California.
Associated Press (AP) reports that the San Quentin State Prison has stopped accepting inmates from 19 Northern California counties Wednesday because of swine flu fears. Nearly half its 5,200 inmates are being quarantined. AP quotes Luis Patino, a spokesman for the federal receiver who oversees prison medical care, as having stated that "tests show four inmates likely have the H1N1 virus, and 47 inmates are showing symptoms." Inmates are not being transferred to other prisons for fear they could spread the pandemic flu. That means there is no room for the roughly 250 new inmates who would normally be transferred from county jails each week to San Quentin.
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman Oscar Hidalgo is quoted as stating that the department is arranging with counties to bring incoming inmates to other prisons for processing as early as 8 July. He said San Quentin will soon be able to accept some new inmates as others are paroled. About 105 inmates each week are normally paroled from San Quentin. "No one's getting early release, nothing like that," Hidalgo said. He said the department has routinely faced similar problems with other contagious diseases.
Reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in California as of this date is 2,469 cases (1,945 confirmed and 524 probable), which includes 287 hospitalizations and 32 deaths. The total cumulative case count in Monterey County is currently 41.
The reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in California as of this date are 2,009 cases (1,658 confirmed, 351 probable) from 45 of 61 local health jurisdictions.
The number of H1N1 flu cases continues to decrease in California, but the total number is still higher than is usual for summer. For Monterey County, there has been no change since the previous week; the total cumulative case count is currently 33 in the county.
As of this date, the total cumulative H1N1 case count is 22 in Monterey County. We remind readers that the county remains at Phase 6 Pandemic alert level.
Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health, today urged Californians to continue to take precautions against the spread of the novel H1N1 virus (swine flu), which persists in California despite the end of the regular flu season. "Flu activity usually declines significantly in the summer months, but we are continuing to see cases of H1N1," Horton said. "We remind all Californians to continue to take common-sense steps to prevent the flu from spreading by covering their coughs, washing hands and staying home when they are sick."
Dr. Horton's offered the reminder as local health officials announced the death of the 17th Californian from the novel H1N1 virus, a middle-aged man from Solano County. Preliminary information from local health officials indicate that 10 of the 17 Californians who have died had pre-existing health conditions including chronic respiratory conditions like asthma and emphysema. Another common factor appears to be obesity and morbid obesity.
In addition, at least 142 Californians have been hospitalized due to the novel H1N1 virus, while many more have been sickened at home and have recovered. The majority of H1N1 cases continue to be mild in severity.
As of 25 June, the number of reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in California was 1,519 cases, of which 1,294 were confirmed and 225 probable.
On Friday morning, 12 June, Stanford Hospital tested something that might one day be the standard for how all hospitals respond when thousands might need care at the height of pandemic-a car drive-through triage and care system to keep people from infecting each other and to care for them as quickly and efficiently as possible. The system tested, with 40 patients and 50 health care providers, was simple. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, evaluators and observers hovered around a series of tables where patients were first registered, then evaluated, then treated and then discharged The observers - health care and emergency preparedness professionals - gathered data that will be sent on to the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control for evaluation and review.
For Stanford and Palo Alto police officials, one of the main challenges when a catastrophe occurs is traffic control. In a dry run a couple of years ago, city emergency officials used the Mitchell Park Library as a medical evaluation center, "but we concluded it was not efficient. Parking is a significant issue," said Dennis Burns, the city's interim police chief. Keeping people in their cars is a great idea, he said.
The California Department of Public Health reports that as of this date, there have been 918 confirmed and 218 probable Influenza A(H1N1) cases in the state.
In response to WHO's decision to raise the pandemic level to phase 6, the Director of the California Department of Public Health, Dr. Mark Horton, issued a statement that included the following passages:
"The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has prepared for pandemic influenza and has already been actively responding to it. While there have been hospitalizations and deaths from the virus in California, and we expect there will be more, for most people who contract the virus the symptoms have been mild.
"CDPH will continue to monitor the novel H1N1 flu in California to alert the public to any significant changes that would impact the public's health. To combat the spread of the virus, please remember to wash your hands, cough in your sleeve and stay home when sick."
The influenza situation in Monterey County is unchanged since the previous week. To reiterate, there have been 14 confirmed and 4 suspected Influenza A(H1N1) cases to this date.
As of May 5, Monterey County health officials have reported about 6 probable swine flu cases in the county, but so far have decided to leave schools open.
There are no apparent links between the 4 swine flu cases discovered last week, all of them who were children, and the 2 new cases discovered on 4 and 5 May.
Although some parents have indicated concern about whether their children are threatened by swine flu, the Monterey County Health Officer Dr. Hugh Stallworth stated that students are not at risk and therefore, there is no need to close schools.
Dr. Stallworth said it would be "irresponsible" to leave the decision to keep students at home to parents without first exploring whether there was an actual risk. "We are the health experts. We decide whether or not there is a risk situation," Dr. Stallworth said, adding that the new strain "seems much less aggressive than originally thought." No student in Monterey County has transmitted the virus to other students. If this was to occur, Dr. Stallworth would order classes to be suspended.
Out of 25 California counties with confirmed or probable cases, fewer than half have suspended classes. Only 6 of the 10 counties that closed campuses have confirmed cases of swine flu.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) held a pandemic influenza exercise during 12-13 May 2008. View a report about the pandemic influenza exercise, published in January 2009.
The exercise tested DPH's ability to communicate with area hospitals and provide infection control guidelines under a shortage situation.
In addition, it tested communication and reporting with the DPH Departmental Operations Center and state partners during an Infectious Disease Emergency Response (IDER) plan activation using traditional means and the new Virtual Command Center software.
Finally, the exercise evaluated responders' use of newly revised and shortened Incident Command System (ICS) forms.
In the 2008-2009 flu season, fewer patients sought medical assistance at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, located in San Diego County, compared to the 2007-2008 flu season. Health officials believe the vaccine distributed in fall 2008 is the main reason why the 2008-2009 flu season has been milder than the previous one.
"The whole constellation of fever, cough, muscle ache and joint pain is not quite as bad as it has been in past years," said Dr. Marc Kobernick, an emergency physician at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. Kobernick typically diagnoses dozens of flu cases each year, whereas his count is fewer than ten for the current season.
In San Diego County, 794 people tested positive for influenza between October 2008 and April 2009. During the 2007-2008 flu season, 1,850 persons in the county were diagnosed with influenza. Two individuals have died from influenza-related complications during the 2008-2009 flu season compared to nine last season.
San Diego County public health officer Dr. Wilma Wooten associated this season's lower influenza infection rate with high risk patients and medical workers having received early vaccination. Wooten also noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinating all children over six months of age against the flu.
FDA cleared for marketing a new rapid test for detecting the presence of A/H5N1 flu virus, an avian influenza subtype that can infect humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the few avian influenza viruses that can infect humans, the H5N1 subtype has caused the largest number of cases of serious disease and death.
Previous tests could detect this influenza virus subtype in three or four hours, whereas the new one can do it in less than 40 minutes. "The clearance of this test represents a major step toward protecting the public from the threat of pandemic flu," said Daniel G. Schultz, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The test, called AVantage A/H5N1 Flu Test, is manufactured by Arbor Vita Corporation, located in Sunnyvale, California. It detects influenza virus H5N1 in throat or nose swabs collected from patients present with have flu-like symptoms.
Despite an otherwise mild flu season in California, the influenza virus continues to spread widely. Health officials use the term "widespread" when flu cases are being detected in half of the state. "It was a slower start, but we also have been very successful in vaccinating people and the vaccine is a better match," said Dr. Gil Chavez, epidemiologist for the state's Department of Public Health.
Influenza usually peaks in January or February, but cases of flu can occur even in April and May. Health specialists urge people to continue washing hands and cover their mouths when they cough. "The most important thing with influenza is to never predict," said Alicia Fry, medical epidemiologist with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Between 5 and 20 percent of the U.S. population contracts flu in any given year. For prevention, the CDC recommends that everyone over 6 months old receives a flu shot, especially school children. Those who experience fever, sore muscles, chills, and fatigue should be seen by a physician within 48 hours of symptoms first appearing.
Even though no connection between childhood vaccines and autism has been scientifically proved, a growing number of parents throughout California refuse to vaccinate their children against diseases such as flu, thereby increasing the risk of disease outbreaks in schools.
Claims that vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, may cause autism are unproven. In addition, thimerosal has been removed from routine childhood vaccines since 2001. Although the preservative remains in some flu vaccine formulations, thimerosal-free flu vaccines are readily available.
After 2001, researchers conducted an investigation to determine if thimerosal was causing autism, concluding that the mercury-based preservative was not at fault. One such study found that autism rates continued to rise in California even after the preservative was phased out of routine childhood vaccines.
Furthermore, in 2002, a study that involved more than 500,000 Danish children showed no increase in the risk of any autistic-spectrum disorders among vaccinated children as compared with unvaccinated children.
The advice given to pregnant women not to eat certain fish due to their mercury content may be another reason for misinterpretation regarding the use of vaccines containing thimerosal. However, there is significant difference between the mercury found in fish, which is absorbed into tissues through the digestive process, and the mercury-based preservative once found in routine childhood vaccines, which is not absorbed but is instead eliminated in human wastes.
Vaccine exemptions for kindergartners, which allow them to enroll without having state-mandated immunizations, have more than doubled in the last decade. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infections can spread quickly within groups that have a 90-95 percent vaccination rate.
The current flu season in California is turning out to be one of the mildest in recent years. However, even though doctors claim the [flu season's] peak to be over, a milder [flu] wave may still to come. The number of children who have died from influenza during the current 2008-2009 flu season is three, which compares favorably to five who died last season.
Historically, California's flu season peaks in January and February. Data from last week show that the number of flu cases have begun to decline and will presumably continue so through April, said Dr. Gilberto Chavez, deputy director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at the California Department of Public Health.
One reason this winter's flu season has been mild is that this year's flu vaccine contained a flu virus strain that closely matched the strains of flu virus prevalent in the general population, health officials said. Chavez also said public health authorities have improved their ability to encourage the public, including children, to become vaccinated against flu.
| Site Last Modified: February 16, 2011 |
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