Below is the State of Connecticut DEMHS weekly H1N1 situational awareness report.
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
H1N1 Situation Report
Report Period: October 23, 2009 to October 29, 2009
The Connecticut Departments of Public Health (DPH) and Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) are working together to provide a weekly CT Situation Report on what the State of Connecticut is doing in preparation and response to a H1N1 influenza pandemic. This report provides a brief overview of the H1N1 situation in CT, as well as on the national and international levels.
NOTE: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the start of the 2009-10 influenza season began Sunday August 30, 2009. All statistics provided will be based on this calendar.
I. Connecticut Situation Summary
· Department of Public Health (DPH)
· There have been 3 confirmed deaths in CT due to H1N1 in individuals with underlying medical conditions since August 30, 2009.
· Preliminary influenza data from the week ending October 24th reveals that a rapidly increasing level of influenza activity is being observed in Connecticut, as measured by laboratory confirmed test results and reports of increased school absenteeism by students with influenza-like illness.
· Vaccine information: CT has received 178,800 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to date.
· A total of 98 laboratory confirmed test reports of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus have been received as of October 27, 2009. Of these cases: 48% are male, 50% female and 2% unknown. Ages from less than one year old to 73 years old, median age: 24.
· Local Update:
- The Connecticut River Area Health District, (CRAHD) in cooperation with the Town of Old Saybrook, opened the Old Saybrook emergency operations center (EOC) to take calls from residents in Old Saybrook, Deep River, Clinton, Killingworth, Westbrook, Essex and Chester regarding H1N1 and the vaccine.
- Local Health departments and districts continue to set up clinics anticipating delivery of vaccine.
- School superintendents and principals are keeping local health districts apprised of absenteeism rates.
- CT DPH is working with local health departments to develop a vaccination strategy for school nurses.
· Schools
· The CT State Department of Education (SDE) issued guidance to all School Nurses regarding the distribution of surgical masks to school systems.
- State Department of Education is reporting the following confirmed school closures
· Region School District 10 (Harwinton/Burlington) will reopen on Monday, November 2, 2009.
· Keigwin Middle School, Middletown - will reopen on Monday, November 2, 2009
· St. John’s School Middletown , will reopen on Monday, November 2, 2009
· East Haven Academy, will reopen on Monday, November 2, 2009
- Other school information from multiple news reports 10/27 and 10/28.
· Schools closed: Guilford H.S. – closed Oct 26 & 27. Reopened 10/28.
· Other schools with high absenteeism rates: Branford - Walsh Intermediate School, Portland - Brownstone Intermediate School and Glastonbury - Smith Middle School. Other school systems monitoring high absenteeism: Avon, Berlin, Bolton, Madison, East Hartford, Bolton
· Since August 30, UCONN has had 200 cases of influenza like illness (ILI), 51 cases just last week.
· To view The Connecticut Association of Schools - Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference H1N1 Contingency Plan go to www.casciac.org
· Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS)
- Current DEMHS activation level — MONITORING (information review and sharing, and outreach mode). H1N1 incident information has been posted for state and local public safety officials on Web EOC.
- The 5 DEMHS Regional Coordinators along with their Regional Planning Teams are monitoring H1N1 activities across the State.
· Other State Agencies
· A Legislative Forum on H1N1 will take place on Wed., November 18, 2009 from 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM in room 2D at the Legislative Office Building
· Public Information
· Call center volume:
· Total number of calls into the DPH Hotline since inception (Oct 5th): 2,986
· For the week 10/18/2009 - 10/24/2009, 2-1-1 Infoline answered 37 calls related to the H1N1 virus. 4 calls were concerning the symptoms of the virus, and 5 calls were looking for general information about the virus. 28 calls had questions about the H1N1 vaccine. Most of the vaccine related calls to 2-1-1 were about to the vaccine's availability - where to get vaccinated, had the state run out of vaccine, etc. The H1N1 recorded messages were selected 439 times. The vaccine message was selected 234 times out of 439.
- Current public messaging:
· Initial supplies of the H1N1 vaccine from the federal government are small.
· Governor Rell has expressed her concerns about H1N1 and seasonal vaccine supplies to DHHS.
· CT DPH is getting available vaccine to those at greatest risk.
· Patience
II. New England States Situation/FEMA Region A Update Summary
- The 24/7 Regional Response Coordination Center at FEMA Region 1 is currently at a Watch/Steady State Activation Level. FEMA Region 1 reports daily to DEMHS and will update DEMHS with H1N1 situational awareness as it becomes available.
- All the New England States have reported to FEMA that their current activation level is MONITORING.
- Rhode Island - State health officials are tracking the spread of swine flu through electronic prescription records, using information supplied by pharmacies to document how much Tamiflu and other antivirals are being dispensed to patients.
- The first death in Vermont linked to 2009 H1N1 influenza was also reported this week in an adult with serious medical conditions. The Vermont Department of Health is reporting a significant increase in influenza illness around the state over the past week. Cases of 2009 H1N1 have been confirmed by the Health Department Laboratory in all areas of the state, and hospitals are reporting a sharp increase in the number of visits related to respiratory or viral illness.
III. National Situation Update Summary
· The President's declaration of a national emergency is a step taken to enable healthcare facilities to respond to the H1N1 influenza pandemic should conditions worsen.
· The President's declaration allows a healthcare facility to request a temporary waiver of certain standard federal requirements that may impede the ability to cope in case the number of H1N1 patients suddenly increases dramatically.
· Waivers must be requested by the individual healthcare facility and are reviewed by state and federal oversight agencies.
· No waivers have been requested in Connecticut.
· CDC Director Thomas Frieden said there are 22.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccine available to the public, up from 14 million doses a week ago, but the process is still moving too slowly.
· Each week the CDC publishes a report called the Flu View that can be found on the CDC website www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
IV. International H1N1 Update Summary
· As of 17 October 2009, worldwide there have been more than 414,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and nearly 5000 deaths reported to WHO. Mongolia, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe have reported pandemic influenza cases for the first time this week. Iceland, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago reported their first fatal cases. (Source: WHO)
V. Non-H1N1 Information
Distribution List: CT City, Town & Tribal Nation Chief Elected Officials/Chief Executive Officers
CT City, Town & Tribal Nation Emergency Management Directors
CT City, Town & Tribal Nation Health Department/Districts
CT Emergency Management Association (CEMA) – Executive Board
CT City, Town & Tribal Nation Public Safety – Police & Fire Chiefs
Regional Planning Organizations/Agencies, Council of Governments/Elected Officials
DEMHS Coordinating Council
Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Councils
State of Connecticut Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Liaisons
Security Communications Access Network (SCAN)
Submitted by: Peter J. Boynton, Commissioner, CT Dept. of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Dr. J. Robert Galvin, Commissioner, CT Department of Public Health
October 29, 2009
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