Health Advisory #4

THIS IS AN EXERCISE. THIS IS NOT A REAL EVENT

To: Vermont Hospitals, Ambulatory Care Settings, Healthcare Providers and Vermont Department of Health Personnel

From: Susan Schoenfeld, RN, MSPH
            Deputy State Epidemiologist

Date: July 21, 2006

CDC and the Vermont Department of Health recommend that due to limited quantities, antiviral medications should be restricted for the treatment of persons hospitalized with suspected H5N1 infection.  Antiviral medications should not be used to treat or prophylax persons who do not require hospitalization. 

The only persons eligible for prophylaxis are emergency personnel designated by the State of Vermont to control and eradicate animal influenza.

At this time we are asking that:

  1. No antivirals prescriptions be written or filled for amantadine; rimantadine; zanamivir; or oseltamivir.
  2. Pharmacists should not fill the same four antiviral prescriptions.
  3. Pharmacists, hospitals, and Primary Care Provider Offices should place the four restricted antivirals in a secure location.
  4. Only hospitals will dispense the four restricted medication per CDC recommendations.
  5. If a clinician determines that a patient requires one of these listed antivirals for a clinical condition other than the treatment of H5NI and the clinician believes the medical necessity of treating the patient for that condition is greater than the medical necessity of treating a patient with H5N1, the clinician must call the Department of Health clinical liaison at 802 657-4307 for approval.

Restricted (do not use) antivirals are:

  1. amantadine
  2. rimantadine
  3. zanamivir
  4. oseltamivir

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 the CDC at: 000- 000-0000

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