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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