Peggy Burton Health Commissioner Dr. George Pettit Medical Director

City of Portsmouth Health Department 605 Washington Street Portsmouth, OH 45662 (740) 353-5153

Board Members Mayor Jim Kalb, President Raymond Carson, O.D. Pres. Pro Tem Elie Saab, M.D., F.C.C.P. Timothy Angel, PhD James Wayne Jennifer LeMaster

H1N1 Influenza Press Release Update

H1N1 Influenza Press Release. May 6, 2009.

Scioto County Health Department
Portsmouth City Health Department

Contact: Dr. Randall L. Schlegel, D. C., Emergency Planner
Telephone: 740-352-5778
E-mail: PCHD1@zoomnet.net

May 6th, 2009
Subject: Swine Influenza

Immediate Release
5-6-09
May 6, 2009

"Local Health Officials Status Report on Flu Outbreak"

Scioto County health Officials today were feeling more confident about the recent outbreak of H1N1 Influenza outbreak that has seen local, state, federal and world health authorities working tirelessly to prevent spread of what was initially known as the “swine Flu”. Recent updates from the Ohio Department of Health, the centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have been encouraging, showing he H1N1 strain of Influenza A has not accelerated in person to person transmission in the U.S. as widespread as was originally feared.

Local and State Emergency response Plans were activated two weeks ago when federal health authorities issued a Public Health Emergency Declaration to slow the spread of the flu outbreak from Mexico when laboratory confirmed cases of the H1N1 were occurring in the United States. Meeting in Unified Command at the Portsmouth City Health Department today, member agencies of the local Emergency Team were briefed that of five suspected cases locally – three tested negative for H1N1 and of the two remaining suspect cases neither met the Ohio Department of Health criteria for the patient having exposure to someone who recently traveled to Mexico.

Dr. Aaron Adams, Scioto County Health Commissioner, Local Incident Commander said “It’s obvious that activating plans for public education and health assessments has apparently mitigated the risk and danger this particular outbreak has caused.” Adams said “our emergency plan and emergency team are well practiced and work closely with one another in times of pending crisis. This has enabled us to reduce widespread outbreak locally at this time. Not to say that when flu season comes in late 2009 we won’t be revisited by this particular strain of flu, but for now it appears that the situation has stabilized in Mexico and the US with only sporadic locations impacted.” Adams said “originally the CDC was suggesting school districts with a confirmed case should close for up to 14 days. Yesterday the CDC revised their guidelines. School closure is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of H1N1 and, in general, is not advised to close unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function.”

Dr. Wayne Wheeler, Unified Command medical Director echoed Adams remarks stating “Early recognition and activation of emergency response planning and health surveillance has kept the situation at a level that is no different than what we see during flu season every year.” Dr. Randy Schlegel, Emergency Coordinator for the Portsmouth City and Scioto county Health Departments said “Unified Command has been working with state and federal health partners in securing assess to Strategic national Stockpile of anti-viral medication should the person to person transmission of the flu strain accelerate and the number of confirmed H1N1 flu cases require the anti-viral for treatment of symptoms and commercial availability of the medication has been exhausted.”

Peggy Burton, Portsmouth City Health Commissioner explained, “Since 2002, Homeland Security has given the Portsmouth City and Scioto County Health Departments grant monies that allowed us to develop an emergency response plan and conduct practice drills to ready ourselves for incidents such as the recent H1N1 Influenza outbreak. Over the years, we have worked to strengthen the plan and enlarging our network of community partners such as Southern Ohio Medical Center, Scioto County Emergency Management, Red Cross, the New Boston and Portsmouth City Police and Fire Departments, city and county fire and EMS units, Scioto County Sheriffs Department, Shawnee State University, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and numerous physicians “. We also work with multi-county emergency and medical response teams. We approached this incident as though it was a worst-case scenario right from the beginning, regardless of the World Health Organization pandemic alert level. The Incident Command System allows us to integrate organizational structure to meet the demands without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries. It basically serves as an efficient use of resources. Our Response Plan is working beautifully. We are following the protocol and with the lessening impact we are experiencing, it has allowed us to test our plan realistically so we are even more prepared for a pandemic response in the future, if necessary.

We do want to remind citizens to remain vigilant, however, and follow public health guidelines to wash hands diligently for 20 seconds, cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth, and avoid contact with possibly infected people. Live a healthy lifestyle following a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and get plenty of sleep.

It is safe to eat pork since the virus is a respiratory agent and does not get into the muscle of the animal.

For additional information contact the Portsmouth City Health Department at 740-353-5153 or the Scioto County Health Department at 740-354-3241. You may also visit the Portsmouth City Health Department’s web site at www.portsmouthhealthdept.org.