Additional Cases of Influenza A H5N1 in the United States Confirmed
THIS IS AN EXERCISE: THIS IS NOT A REAL EVENT.
For Immediate Release: July 21, 2006
Media Contact: Communication Office
Vermont Department of Health
000-000-0000
BURLINGTON – The Vermont Department of Health issued a health advisory today after tests by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that the strain of avian influenza confirmed in several people in California is readily transmissible from person to person and could lead to a pandemic.
A pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of a new and severe strain of influenza that can spread easily from person to person. Three conditions must be met before a pandemic can take place.
1. A new or novel influenza virus emerges and infects people.
2. The virus causes severe illness.
3. The virus spreads easily from person to person.
Currently there are no cases of avian influenza in Vermont.
“While this new information from the CDC elevates concerns, a pandemic has not happened yet,” said Dave Cote, Executive Director of Emergency Preparedness for the Vermont Department of Health. “We remain hopeful that this outbreak can and will be controlled and contained. However, because a pandemic could potentially impact everyone in the United States, it is vital that every Vermonter begins to prepare.”
To Plan for a Pandemic:
- Store a supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if you cannot get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.
- Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
- Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.
To limit the spread of germs and prevent infection: - Teach your children to wash hands frequently with soap and water, and model the correct behavior.
- Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, and be sure to model that behavior.
- Teach your children to stay away from others as much as possible if they are sick. Stay home from work and school if sick.
For a full list of precautions and preparations families can take, please visit: http://healthvermont.gov/emerg/opf/checklist.aspx
A total of 75 cases in California, including 25 confirmed human cases, have been reported by the CDC. All 75 travelers visited either Australia, Tokyo or Bangkok, or had close contact with visitors to those areas. Toronto, Canada has 11 confirmed human cases.
The CDC has restricted travel to-and-from Australia, Tokyo and Bangkok and continues to advise people against non-essential travel to any area that has been impacted by avian flu.
Vermont’s health care providers continue to aggressively look for signs of the disease. Providers are required to report to the Health Department any patients with travel history to an area that has been impacted by avian influenza who: 1) have a temperature greater than 100.4 degrees with a cough or sore throat, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or other severe respiratory illness or 2) have had close contact (within 3 feet) with individuals suspected or confirmed to have the H5N1 avian influenza.
Anyone who demonstrates the symptoms above should contact their physician or local health provider.
“We will take every possible precaution,” Cote said. “We remain in close contact with health officials at the national level, and in Canada.”
Vermonters with questions or concerns should call the Health Department Information Line at: 211
For more information on pandemic flu, please visit: http://healthvermont.gov.
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