Swine flu local update

The following Memo was distributed today by Patrick McNulty, Public Health Administrator of McHenry County, Illinois.

Subject: H1N1 (swine Flu) Update

“The H1N1 (Swine Flu) outbreak continues to be a fluid situation. The number of cases in Illinois as of 10 am on 5/2/09 is 88 with 85 probable and 3 confirmed. That number is expected to increase and our mostly in the Northeastern part of the state. Hospitalization on a national level is at 6% of the cases. There is one probable case in McHenry and at least 18 people have been tested in the county with results pending. Our local surveillance has shown an increase in chest congestion in schools, which we are closely monitoring.

“We are continuing to work with all the schools to look at any unusual increase in flu like symptoms over what is normally expected. We have taken into account issues such as allergies and asthma. The discussion on school closure continues to get a lot of attention throughout the country. There is specific guidance on school closures from CDC. While the ultimate decision to close any school rest with the school district, the Department has made it clear as to our ability and willingness to provide the scientific assistance that is necessary to come to a conclusion.

“IDPH direction for testing of possible H1N1 cases has changed due to the overloading of laboratory capacity. IDPH will accept for testing only those cases that have symptoms and have been hospitalized.”Treatment and isolation guidance of those who have symptoms and are not tested remains the same. Anti virals are still considered for treatment only and do require a doctors prescriptions. Updates on testing and treatment guidance are provided to all medical providers in the county. IDPH has issued a press release warning of the over prescription and use of anti virals. The most effective use of anti virals at this point is for those that received them within the first 48 hours of having actual symptoms.

“The Departments has received a package of medical supplies from the strategic national stockpile on 5-1-09. This package contains anti virals and respirators. Similar packages were received by all hospitals and health departments throughout the state. Guidance for its use and reorder has been provided. At his point the use is limited to treatment only when no other sources exist. At his point there is still readily available supplies of anti virals in the private sector and production of additional supplies is underway.

“The Department has canceled the scheduled dispensing exercise at Marengo High School that was scheduled for May 8, 2009 due to our current H1N1 response. This exercise will be rescheduled at a latter time.

“The Department continues to maintain our web site at http://www.mcdh.info/ and has been getting a good response from the public with several entities linking our page to theirs. We have all of our public information posters on the web page in Spanish and English. “We have completed development of a new poster on staying home when you are ill that will be widely distributed.

“All of our staff and MRC volunteers have been kept fully up to date on the situation and our receiving additional training should we need to expand our involvement. We have developed a daily SWINE LINE publication to serve this purpose.

“The Departments H1N1 operation Center Staff consist of ten Department staff and our medical advisor who meet daily and who have fully stayed on top of the situation. We have also invited our Emergency Management Agency, County Administration and County Board Chairman to participate in our meetings and which they have. Staff have done an excellent job in their response to the H1N1 outbreak and have been utilizing all of the past training/planning for an event of this magnitude.”