Information
From The City Of Detroit
The
following was provided by:
Melinda
Dixon, MD
Medical Director, Disease Control
City of Detroit
Special
Announcement:
A public health emergency has been declared by the CDC because
of cases of Swine Flu that have occurred in Mexico where
several people have died. While 40 cases have occurred
in the United States, to date, none have died, and many
have recovered without the use of antivirals. At
present there is one probable case in Michigan (Livingston
County).
As a health care provider you
can be of help by doing the following:
• Stay
abreast of new developments by monitoring information posted
on the CDC website concerning swine flu. Most helpful
will be the recommendations page were you will find case
definitions and information to help determine when to treat
(http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/recommendations.htm)
• If
a suspected case presents to your office, obtain a nasal
swab from the patient which needs to be analyzed at the
Michigan Department of Community Health’s Lab.
• Contact
the City of Detroit, Department of Health and Wellness
Promotion Communicable Disease Division to report any suspected
cases at (313) 876-4138
Definitions
(from CDC website):
A suspected case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus
infection is defined as:
1) A person with acute respiratory illness who was a close
contact to a confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1)
virus infection during the case’s infectious period, OR
2) A person with an acute respiratory illness who traveled
to or resides in an area where there are confirmed cases
of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
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 during the case’s infectious period.
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)
High-risk
group for
complications of influenza is defined as: a person who
is at high-risk for complications of seasonal influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr57e717a1.htm.
However, it too early to ascertain what persons are at
high-risk for complications of swine influenza A (H1N1)
virus infection. This guidance will be updated as new
information is available. Clinicians should consider
swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the differential
diagnosis of patients with febrile respiratory disease
and who 1) live in areas in the U.S. with confirmed human
cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection or
2) who traveled recently to Mexico or were in contact
with persons who had febrile respiratory illness and
were in the areas of the U.S. with confirmed swine influenza
cases or Mexico in the 7 days preceding their illness
onset.
Testing:
If a clinician suspects a case of influenza in their patients
they are asked to do a rapid influenza screening test. If
the test is positive, you are asked to contact the City
of Detroit, Department of Health and Wellness promotion
at 313-876-4138, to inform of the positive test and facilitate
transport of the specimen to the MDCH Laboratory. Their
number is 517-335-8099 or 517-335-8102. The after-hours
number is 517-335-9030.
If
rapid test is not available perform a nasopharyngeal swab,
and contact the City of Detroit, Department of Health and
Wellness Promotion, Communicable Disease Division at 313-876-4138,
after hours please call 313-876-4100, to facilitate transport
to MDCH Laboratory.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms
of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat,
body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have
reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.
In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory
failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection
in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening
of underlying chronic medical conditions.
General
recommendations to
the public:
1. Frequent
hand washing;
2. Avoid
close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise
appear ill;
3. Avoid
touching eyes, nose, or mouth; and
4. Cover
nose or mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or
sneezing.
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