Caring for Someone Sick at Home-H1N1 FLU

   

H1N1 FLU AND SEASONAL FLU

Caring for Someone Sick at Home

Will you know what to do if someone in your home gets the flu?

This flu season could be worse than most flu seasons with more people than usual getting sick. Hospitals and clinics may be much busier than normal. The good news is that most people with flu will be able to be cared for at home and will feel better in about a week. Learn what you can do to help your family this flu season

2009-2010 Influenza Season Week 47 ending November 28, 2009

Synopsis:

During week 47 (November 22-28, 2009), influenza activity continued to decrease in the U.S.

 956 (15.4%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.

Over 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold for the ninth consecutive week.

Seventeen influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported. Twelve of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and five were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was undetermined.

The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 3.7% which is above the national baseline of 2.3%. Eight of the 10 regions reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. Regions 6 and 10 reported ILI below their region specific baselines. Twenty-five states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, 17 states reported regional influenza activity, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and six states reported local influenza activity, and Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and two states reported sporadic influenza activity.

*Influenza season officially begins each year at week 40. This season data from week 35 will be included to show the trend of influenza activity before the official start of the 2009-10 influenza season. WHO and NREVSS collaborating laboratories located in all 50 states and Washington D.C., report to CDC the number of respiratory specimens tested for influenza and the number positive by influenza type and subtype. The results of tests performed during the current week are summarized in the table below.

	Week 47
No. of specimens tested	6,224
No. of positive specimens (%)	956 (15.4%)
Positive specimens by type/subtype
Influenza A	950 (99.4%)
A (2009 H1N1)	708 (74.5%)
A (subtyping not performed)	233 (24.5%)
A (unable to subtype)*	8 (0.8%)
A (H3)	1 (0.1%)
A (H1)	0 (0.0%)
Influenza B	6 (0.6%)

*Subtyping results for the majority of specimens in this category were inconclusive because of low virus titers.

During week 47, seasonal influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B viruses co-circulated at low levels with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses. Over 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses reported to CDC this week were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses

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What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

Get vaccinated. Vaccination is the best protection we have against flu.Seasonal flu vaccine is available now and initial doses of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine also are available, with additional doses available later this year. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Take everyday actions to stay healthy. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread that way. Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures. Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available

Fraudulent emails referencing CDC-sponsored State Vaccination Program

CDC has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program.

The messages request that users must create a personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov website. The message then states that anyone that has reached the age of 18 has to have his/her personal Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov site.

The CDC has NOT implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on www.cdc.gov. Users that click on the email are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system. CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:

Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email messages.

            Free H1N1 Clinics For People At Highest Risk And Who Can't Afford To PayFour free H1N1 vaccine clinics for people at highest risk and who can't afford to pay Public Health is opening up four free H1N1 vaccine clinics, beginning Saturday, December 5, and again on Wednesday, December 9, as a way to provide access to people at highest risk for H1N1 influenza (swine flu) who cannot afford to pay. Future clinic dates will be scheduled as more vaccine becomes available.

More H1N1 influenza vaccine continues to arrive every week, and most vaccine is still going to local health care providers for at risk patients. Local pharmacies are also receiving limited ongoing allocations. "As more vaccine comes into the community, we're continuing to allocate limited amounts to people without insurance or who can't afford to pay," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. "We encourage people to seek H1N1 vaccine through their health care providers or through pharmacies if they can afford the administrative cost or if insurance covers it." An estimated 280,000 people in King County who are at high-risk for complications have already been vaccinated for H1N1 influenza and an additional 90,000 doses of vaccine is on the ground or in the process of being shipped to vaccine providers in the county. Though flu illness seems to have peaked locally, at least temporarily, H1N1 illness continues in the community, and vaccination is the best wait to protect against H1N1 influenza. The public vaccination clinics will be held at four sites on Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, December 9, from noon to 7 p.m.:

•Columbia Public Health Center (4400 37th Ave S., Seattle) •Renton Public Health Center (3001 NE 4th St., Renton) •North Public Health Center (10501 Meridian Ave N., Seattle) •Federal Way Public Health Center (33431 13th Place S., Federal Way) On December 5, there will be a total of 4,000 doses of vaccine available across the four sites, and on December 9, there will be 1,000 doses of vaccine. Vaccinations are first come, first served, and no reservations will be taken. If demand is high, people will be given a time later that day to return for a guaranteed vaccination. Once supply is exhausted, people will be told as soon as they arrive

The ability to pay will be determined on the honor system, and it will be assumed that people getting vaccinated at one of the four clinics cannot afford the administrative cost of H1N1 vaccination.

Most of the vaccine arriving to King County continues to be allocated to health care providers so that they can vaccinate patients who are most at risk, including:

•Pregnant women •People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age •People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old •People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems •Healthcare and emergency workers People who are recommended to receive H1N1 vaccine should continue to seek it. Vaccine supply is gradually improving each week, and it is expected that eventually there will be enough vaccine in King County for anyone who wants it. Visit the Public Health H1N1 influenza website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 for updates on vaccine availability in the community or call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464), which is staffed with operators to answer questions from King County residents about H1N1 influenza. Hours of operation with operators are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with special 24-hour nurse line service extended over this weekend for people with flu seeking medical care advice. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day