April 27, 2009
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today issued a nationwide public health emergency declaration in response to recent human infections with a newly discovered swine flu virus. The number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the U.S. has risen to at least 20, according to a briefing by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
HHS is taking these steps today to be proactive in responding to this new influenza virus by offering national tools in support of community-led preparedness and response efforts, Acting HHS Secretary Charles Johnson said. The declaration allows us the flexibility, while we learn more about the virus and its impact in the United States, to take additional steps to fully mobilize our prevention, treatment and mitigation capabilities should those actions become necessary.
There have been eight cases in New York, seven in California, two cases each in Texas and Kansas, and one case in Ohio.
The eight New York cases all involve students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens. The school is suspending classes today after tests by the CDC confirmed presence of the virus. The affected students have experienced only mild symptoms and many are already improving, but a similar virus has recently caused deaths in Mexico, according to the New York City Health Department.
The Queens investigation began last week, when more than 100 students at the St. Francis School developed flu-like symptoms, including fever and sore throat. The Health Departments Public Health Laboratory tested nine nose and throat swabs.
There have been no known deaths due to swine flu in the U.S. In fact, health officials say all known illnesses involved people with only mild cases. But doctors are concerned because the virus seems to spread quickly and easily from human to human.
The CDC said it is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support. CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate this investigation.
Laboratory testing has found the virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir and CDC has issued interim guidance for the use of these drugs to treat and prevent infection with swine influenza viruses.
CDC also has prepared interim guidance on how to care for people who are sick and interim guidance on the use of face masks in a community setting where spread of this swine flu virus has been detected.
What to do
Here are some everyday actions CDC recommends:
• 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, especially after you cough
or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Mexico
The outbreak appears to have gotten its start in Mexico, where the government has put the death toll from the new strain of A/H1N1 virus at 20, down from the more than 60 that was reported earlier. However, more than 1,000 people are believed to have been sickened.
Health official in Mexico have been trying to get the outbreak under control. Reuters reported that the majority of the people who have died in the Mexican outbreak were adults between 25 and 45 years old, attributing that information to a Mexican health official.
Swine flu is a type of flu that routinely affects pigs. People can also get the virus, but usually because of contact with the animals. Farm workers, for example, are primarily the human victims of the illness.
Scientists say they are worried about this particular outbreak because at least some of the human victims have not had any contact with pigs. That would suggest the illness is being transmitted through human contact. The CDC said virus samples taken from victims in Mexico and the U.S. match, indicating it is the same virus.
This strain of swine flu has been identified as A/H1N1, a previously undetected strain. Scientists say it appears to combine bird, swine and human viruses in a new way.
In a press briefing late Friday, CDC officials said it was probably too late to contain the outbreak in the U.S. CDC acting director Dr. Richard Besser told reporters in a telephone briefing vaccinations or quarantines would likely prove ineffective at this point.
Swine flu can be lethal, but usually isn't. It's symptoms are similar to those for regular, seasonal flu fatigue, fever and respiratory congestion. Swine flu is treated with four different drugs, with the CDC recommending Tamiflu and Relenza as being the most effective.
