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H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Public Health Alert
Updated: July 24, 2009
From William T. Pound, executive director of the National Conference of State Legislatures:
The National Conference of State Legislatures will provide the most up-to-date and relevant information on the H1N1 flu (swine flu) outbreak. These resources will help state legislators and legislative staff stay abreast of the federal and state responses to this public health alert. The information can help state officials plan and prepare for a potential H1N1 flu (swine flu) outbreak.
Because there are many unknowns, scientists are working diligently to understand this emerging virus and its potential effect on the public’s health. NCSL staff in both the Denver and Washington, D.C., offices are in contact with officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health and Human Services agency. As more detailed information becomes available, NCSL will provide relevant updates.
Latest Updates
Human cases of H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) in the United States have resulted in an emergency declaration by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The declaration, made under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, will enable the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review and issue emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the use of certain laboratory tests to help detect the newly discovered strain of influenza and for the emergency use of certain antivirals. Current H1N1 flu (swine flu) information can be found on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (this information is updated daily, including the number of laboratory confirmed cases and states where H1N1 flu (swine flu) has been reported in humans).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of July 24, 2009, there have been 43,771 laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 flu (swine flu) in the United States which began in Mexico. The World Health Organization reports confirmed cases in Mexico and describes this as a new subtype of the A/H1N1 not previously detected in swine or humans. This novel H1N1 influenza (swine flu) virus is a triple recombinant including gene segments of human, swine, and avian origin. At this time it appears to be susceptible to antivirals available through the national stockpile.
Information about anti-viral stockpiles is available through the Department of Health and Human Services regarding your individual state stockpiles at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/states/antivirals.html.
Guidance for community planning and response is also available at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/index.html.
CDC recommendations for what you can do to stay healthy:
There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people
- Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
- If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
More information on the H1N1 flu (swine flu) response is also available from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials:
http://www.astho.org/?template=swine_flu_response.html
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