Wash Your Hands and If You’re Sick, Use a Sick Day
The first reported (listed as possible) case of the Swine flu has come to Michigan and was found in Livingston County today. It brings about some important tips for the fire service and EMS providers in the State. This flu virus is technically known as the H1N1
The CDC gives the following information about the virus
Case Definitions for Infection with Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus
A confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness with laboratory confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection at CDC by one or more of the following tests:
- real-time RT-PCR
- viral culture
A probable case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with an acute febrile respiratory illness who is:
- positive for influenza A, but negative for H1 and H3 by influenza RT-PCR, or
- positive for influenza A by an influenza rapid test or an influenza immunofluorescence assay (IFA) plus meets criteria for a suspected case
A suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is defined as a person with acute febrile respiratory illness with onset
- within 7 days of close contact with a person who is a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, or
- within 7 days of travel to community either within the United States or internationally where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza A(H1N1) cases, or
- resides in a community where there are one or more confirmed swine influenza cases.
Close contact is defined as: within about 6 feet of an ill person who is a confirmed or suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
Acute respiratory illness is defined as recent onset of at least two of the following: rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, sore throat, cough (with or without fever or feverishness)
Clinicians should consider swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with febrile respiratory disease and who 1) live in San Diego and Imperial Counties, California, or Guadalupe County, Texas, or traveled to these counties or 2) who traveled recently to Mexico or were in contact with persons who had febrile respiratory illness and were in the two U.S. counties or Mexico in the 7 days preceding their illness onset.
Beyond the CDC your local medical control authority and the State of Michigan have provided multiple resources for you and your department. The Michigan Department of Community Health has multiple resources available to us and has a dedicated web-page for resources.
The MDCH EMS division recommends the following:
To ensure that pre-hospital providers are protected, we are suggesting the following actions be taken when caring for patients with signs and symptoms of respiratory illness:
- Use of face mask for patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of respiratory illness.
- EMS personnel should wear N95 masks when caring for patients with signs and symptoms of respiratory illness.
- EMS personnel should query patients presenting with signs and symptoms of respiratory illness regarding travel history.
As more information becomes available we will try to pass it on. Remember it is important to not spread fear amongst our community and have information available for our staff and community. We encourage all of you to stay tuned to the various web pages at the State and the CDC.
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Lots of good information now from the IAFC
http://www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=1107
Guidance on Swine Flu Outbreak Now Available
Fairfax, Va., Apr. 27, 2009… Currently, human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States and internationally. These are linked to the same virus strain found in Central Mexico. The IAFC, with the support of the IAFC EMS Section’s Emerging Disease Committee, has established a webpage to post educational resources and updates regarding the current outbreak.
While alarming, the current swine flu outbreak is just that, an outbreak. It should be taken seriously, but currently the outbreak is not a crisis and should be seen as a learning situation for preparation and response.
Despite some media coverage comparing the outbreak to concerns raised by the current avian influenza (H5N1) virus, there are a number of critical distinctions. One distinction according to the CDC is that, unlike avian flu strain, which has no known antiviral, laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to prescription antiviral drugs.
Fire and emergency service officials are urged to visit the swine flu and emerging diseases resources webpage to review the materials in order to educate your departments and assist in the education of your communities. The Emerging Disease Committee is fully monitoring the situation and will provide updates as they become available.
Update in Michigan, 1 Probable, 1 Confirmed, and 48 Suspect, just remember to keep the basics up with washing hands and protecting yourselves (keeping a calm precense for the community is critical as well.
Update from USFA
A MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE U. S. FIRE AMINISTRATION REGARDING THE H1N1 FLU
Release Date: April 29, 2009
Washington DC- In an effort to send a common message the U. S. Fire Administration (USFA) is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other Federal partners to issue an Emergency Medical Service (EMS), Medical First Responder, and a specific 9-1-1 guidance document (see below) to the Nation’s first responders. This is a dynamic process and we will provide additional information as soon as we receive the appropriate agency(s) approval. In addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) link http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ there is also a link for specific Pandemic Influenza information at http://www.EMS.gov.
“We are currently monitoring the H1N1 Flu information as it comes forward from the CDC and DHS medical experts. As a part of DHS/FEMA, the USFA is seeking to ensure our Nation’s firefighters and their families are provided the information they need to stay safe,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Glenn A. Gaines. “We know as firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) called to emergency medical responses and other emergencies across the Nation, there is always the concern for secondary exposure to fellow firefighters and families as firefighters return to their homes. As conditions change, we will work closely with you to ensure firefighters and EMTs have the most current information.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s EMS Pandemic Influenza Guidelines for Statewide Adoption and Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: Recommendations for Protocol Development and 9-1-1 Personnel and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) are available online at http://www.ems.gov (Click on Pandemic News). State and local EMS agencies should review these documents for additional useful information.
For the most current information regarding the outbreak of H1N1 Flu, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/SwineFlu/