Colorado Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Response Gerrit Bakker, Deputy Director Emergency Preparedness and...
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Transcript of Colorado Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Response Gerrit Bakker, Deputy Director Emergency Preparedness and...
Colorado Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Response
Gerrit Bakker, Deputy Director
Emergency Preparedness and Response DivisionColorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
History• 2001 - Emergency Preparedness and
Response Division created after the Anthrax attacks.
• 2002 - Pandemic Influenza planning began.• 2003 - Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
Receipt, Storage and Staging planning began.
• 2006 – 2008 Statewide exercises.
Climate• Presence of a “novel” virus in the United
States.
• People are dying in Mexico.
• No vaccine, uncertain response to anti-virals.
• Expectation that a pandemic is inevitable.
• Duty to warn v. Duty not to panic
• History with this virus.
Definitions• Pandemic: A reflection of amount and type
of “spread” and a declaration that allows for the release of resources
• Emergency: A similar declaration by a local jurisdiction for the release of resources
• Social Distancing: A step short of Isolation or Quarantine. Separation of contagious persons from those who are susceptible.
Swine flu outbreak 1976 - Fort Dix case
President Gerald Ford is inoculated on Oct. 14, 1976 as part of the "Roll Up Your Sleeves, America" campaign following an outbreak of swine flu in Fort Dix, N.J. that left a young recruit dead. (Via doctorzebra.com)
1976 swine flu outbreak at a glance:
* In 1976, hundreds of soldiers at Fort Dix army base in New Jersey became infected with a form of swine flu. One man died.
* Fearing a repeat of the 1918 bird flu outbreak that killed 675,000 people, President Gerald Ford ordered a nationwide vaccination program. About 40 million Americans were vaccinated.
* The program was stopped after more than 500 Americans developed a severe paralyzing nerve disease as a result of the vaccinations. Thirty people died.
The handling of the 1976 case is now seen as a public health debacle.
Timeline
• Thursday, 4/23 – “There is Swine Flu in the U.S., Texas and California.”
• Friday, 4/24 – St. Francis School, Queens, N.Y., potentially 100 cases.
• Saturday, 4/25 – Getting Organized• Sunday, 4/26 – Full Activation,
Governor Ritter press conference.
Timeline: 4/27 – 5/1
• Daily Press Conferences– Case counts– Guidance releases
• Conference Calls
• Precautionary Methods
• Lab Testing
• Epidemiology
Events Since May 1• Testing limited to those who are most
symptomatic• Research continues – Vaccine, response to
anti-virals, At risk populations• Withdrawal of travel restrictions• Monitoring of events in the southern
hemisphere• “Guessing” about the next vaccine.
Number of confirmed (N = 394)* and probable (N = 414)† cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection with known dates of illness onset --- United States, March 28--May 4, 2009§
U.S. Human Cases of H1N1 Flu Infection
Updated June 5, 2009, 9:00 AM MT States Cases Deaths
California 973
Colorado 75
New York 858 8
Texas 1670 3
Wisconsin 2217
Total 13,217 27
Risk Communication• Traditional Methods
– Press Releases– Press Conferences– CoHELP Call Line
• Specialized Guidelines– Business– Education– Health Care– Social Distancing
Risk Communication• Social Media
– Website: Subscribe for updates
– SATool.org– Google listserv– You Tube Demos– Facebook: COHealth– Twitter for breaking
news– Blog: Be Ready Be
Healthy Be Informed
Anti – Virals / PPE
• Assessment of current status – COPharm– Fit Testing
• SNS– Receipt, Storage, Staging– Regional Transfer Points– Personal Protective Equipment
Current Circumstances• Monitor
– Testing– Surveillance– Investigation
• Next Flu season– Vaccine – Messaging– Testing
Shared Responsibility• Individuals have an important role in
protecting themselves and their families.– Stay informed. Health officials will provide
additional information as it becomes available.– Everyone should take these everyday steps to
protect your health and lessen the spread of this new virus:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Shared Responsibility• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after
you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. • If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for 7 days after
your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Lessons Learned• Planning has paid off• Many different methods of
communication are needed• Messages must be clear,
concise and specific• Pandemic can come from
sources other than Avian Flu• Tolerance for ambiguity• Flexibility