Town of Chesterfield
    New Hampshire

Chesterfield Town Hall

Situation update from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – October 30, 2009

Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView. During the week of October 18-24, 2009, a review of the key indictors found that influenza activity continued to increase in the United States from the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:

• Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) increased steeply since last week in the United States, and overall, are much higher than what is expected for this time of the year. ILI activity now is higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons.
• Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year. Hospitalization rates continue to be highest in younger populations with the highest hospitalization rate reported in children 0-4 years old.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report has increased and has been higher than what is expected at this time of year for four weeks now. In addition, 22 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week; 19 of these deaths were confirmed 2009 H1N1, and three were influenza A viruses, but were not sub-typed. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 114 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths and another 12 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but where the flu virus subtype was not determined.
• Forty-eight states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. This many reports of widespread activity are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
• Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.

It is also worth repeating the following guidance, from an earlier NH DHHS advisory:

 Whether or not there is a confirmed case of H1N1 influenza in your community, it is likely the virus is circulating. It should be assumed that a person could be exposed to H1N1 influenza at school, at work, or anywhere else in the community. Therefore, it is important to highlight, promote and disseminate key common sense prevention messages that include:

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Staying away from sick people who are coughing or sneezing

• Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue, or cough into your sleeve

• Stay at home even if you have mild flu-like illness

• Return to work or school when you are symptom free for at least 24 hours

For more information about H1N1 influenza, visit any or all of the following websites:

www.flu.gov

www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/swineflu.htm

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

http://www.redcross.org/pandemicflu

To learn about what’s being done regionally to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, including information specific to the H1N1 flu, visit:

http://co.cheshire.nh.us/PublicHealth/

And for an update on the global H1N1 situation, take a look at:

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_10_09/en/index.html

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