Health Advisory #2
THIS IS AN EXERCISE. THIS IS NOT A REAL EVENT
To: Vermont Hospitals, Ambulatory Care Settings, Healthcare Providers and Vermont Department of Health Personnel
Date: July 18, 2006
This advisory contains the following important information:
- CDC is confirming the first case of influenza A H5N1 in the United States. The case is in a California man currently hospitalized in Los Angles, with recent travel history to Australia. On July 17, 2006 CDC reported a confirmed case in a resident of Toronto Canada, also exposed in Australia.
- Healthcare facilities should report patients meeting the following criteria to the Health Department (000-000-0000):
- Persons with a recent travel history (less than 10 days) to Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam or Australia who have one or more of the following:
- temperature of ≥38°C (≥100.4° F) with cough and/or sore throat;
- pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or other severe respiratory illnes
- Persons with close contact (within 3 feet) with other confirmed or suspected cases of avian influenza A H5N1.
CDC and the Vermont Department of Health are recommending aggressive surveillance and disease control measures at this phase of the pandemic
- Persons with clinical and epidemiologic risk for avian influenza A H5N1 who present to a hospital should be managed with airborne precautions.
- Persons with close contact (approach within 3 feet) to an ill person confirmed or suspected to have H5N1, who do not require hospitalization, i.e., persons with mild illness or persons with only a history of exposure to a confirmed or suspected cases, can remain at home or in other community-based settings under the following conditions.
For such contacts of cases (including unprotected HCW’s) the following actions are indicated at this point in time:
- testing for H5N1 by oropharyngeal swab sent to VDHL
- asking for voluntary social distancing (i.e., quarantining these contacts)
- monitoring these contacts for symptoms, e.g., twice daily temperature readings and watching for development of other symptoms of ILI.
First Case of Influenza A H5N1 in the United States Confirmed
CDC is confirming the first case of influenza A H5N1 in the United States. The case is in a California man with recent travel history to Australia. This report comes one day following a report of a confirmed case in Canada.
Officials from the California Department of Health are investigating this case and implementing necessary control measures.
As a reminder state and local health officials should review the recommendations provided in the Health Alert disseminated yesterday.
For questions about this Health Alert please contact CDC at: 000-000-0000