STATE OF CONNECTICUT
H1N1 Situation Report
Report Period: October 9, 2009 to October 15, 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.
CURRENT SITUATION SUMMARY:
I. Connecticut Situation Summary
· Department of Public Health (DPH)
* Among the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza cases, 35 cases tested positive since the new influenza season started on August 30th, 2009. The patients for whom home address is known are from the following counties: Fairfield (3), Hartford (11), Litchfield (5), Middlesex (5), New Haven (9), Tolland (2); Of these cases:
o 45.7% are female, 54.3% are male;
o Ages range from 3 to 55 years (median age 19);
o 2 patients have been hospitalized for pandemic (H1N1) related illness
o No fatal case reported.
* As of October 14, 2009 32,600 doses Adult Formulation in multi dose vials, 2,700 pre filled syringes of adult formulation, and 47,800 Flu Mist have been confirmed as shipped to CT.
* Local Health Update:
o The first arrival of flu mist has occurred at some of the Mass Dispensing Areas.
o All local health districts/departments have submitted H1N1 plans to DPH and are currently under review. The plan review team will meet next week and submit comments back to local health directors.
o During yesterday’s weekly DPH conference call with local health partners, updates were provided on H1N1 disease and surveillance, vaccine allocation, Web EOC and the DPH H1N1 Hotline.
· Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS)
* Current DEMHS activation level — monitoring (information review and sharing, and outreach mode).
* The Governor’s Office continues to meet weekly with DEMHS, DPH and the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) on H1N1 public information preparedness and response activities.
* H1N1 incident information has been posted for state and local public safety officials on Web EOC.
· Other State Agencies
* On Friday, October 16, 2009, DEMHS and DPH will be conducting a conference call entitled “H1N1 for State of Connecticut Agencies and Commissions” that will include updates to the State’s H1N1 situation status, vaccine status and continuity of operations planning for state government.
* All new and veteran State agency Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Liaisons are being provided with emergency operations training during the next couple of weeks.
· Public Information
* Current public messaging is:
o More vaccine is on the way.
o Public can also call hotline and check with the Mass Dispensing Area closest to them.
* The DPH hotline (1-800-830-9426) has received 1062 calls since their call center opened Monday, October 5th. The DPH Hotline is accessible Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
* 2-1-1 Infoline reported that their prerecorded messages were selected 53 times during the week of 10/04/09 - 10/10/2009. 2-1-1 has multilingual call specialists 24/7.
II. New England States Situation/FEMA Region 1 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.
· In FEMA Region A (FEMA Region 1 plus New York and New Jersey) State health officials have reported issues related to receiving significantly fewer doses of A(H1N1) vaccine than expected, and the delayed distribution of injectable seasonal flu vaccine. As a result, states have had to restrict and scale back distribution of A(H1N1) vaccines (altering their original planning for the sequencing and number of doses to the established priority groups) and restructure early seasonal flu vaccination programs.
· All the New England States have reported receiving the intranasal H1N1 vaccine except for Vermont.
· As of October 9, 2009, Maine is the only State in the US to declare a public health or civil emergency. (Source: HHS/CDC)
III. National Situation Update Summary
· As of 09 October, the number of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) deaths in the U.S. was 405 this week compared to 443 deaths reported last week. (Source: HHS/CDC)
· As of 09 October, the most significant impacts of A(H1N1) has been the increased ILI outpatient visits and influenza-associated pediatric deaths. (Source: HHS/CDC)
· According to the HHS/CDC, efforts are underway to deliver 250 million doses of A(H1N1) influenza vaccine to over 90,000 vaccination sites throughout the United States and eight U.S. territories. Several states have begun vaccinating health care workers. (Source: HHS/CDC)
· US Geographic spread is increasing, thirty-seven (37) states reported geographically widespread influenza activity compared to 26 last week, 13 states reported regional or local influenza activity as compared to 22 last week.
· The American Red Cross just released a new flu preparedness course targeted to small businesses entitled "Preparing Small Business Workplaces for Pandemic Flu". The course was launched with a joint ARC/OSHA web cast on pandemic preparedness for the workplace, with more than 2,500 businesses registered.
· Each week the CDC publishes a report called the Flu View that can be found on the CDC website
IV. International H1N1 Update Summary
· Globally, the number of A(H1N1) deaths per week (not including U.S.) remained the same this week (190) compared to deaths reported last week (190). The three-month trend indicates a slight decrease. (Source: European Center for Disease Control)
· Global Clustering - Trends indicate most pronounced clustering in city centers and within socio-economic at-risk populations. Brazil, U.S., and Argentina are leading death rates (number of deaths per number of ILI cases)
V. Non-H1N1 Critical Information
Two storm systems expected to affect Connecticut during the next 4 days. The latest computer models are in fair agreement and are forecasting that two low pressure systems will form off the mid-Atlantic Coast during the next 4 days and bring rain and a mix (in the hills) to Connecticut. A fairly large coastal storm is expected to develop this afternoon off the Virginia / North Carolina Coast. This storm system is forecast to intensify as it moves to the East Northeast and well south of New England by early Friday morning. The northern edge of the precipitation shield from this storm is expected to move through Southern New England later today and overnight. For Connecticut, towns can expect light rain to develop across the state from West to East between 11:00 AM this morning and 2:00 PM
this afternoon. The light rain will continue through the afternoon and into this evening, mixing with wet snow and sleet at times above 1,000 feet in the Northwest and Northeast Hills. Temperatures should hold in the low 40’s in the valleys and along the coast and in the mid to upper 30’s in the Hills above 1,000 feet. Little or no accumulation is expected.
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
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 15, 2009
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
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