Wisconsin Medical Journal
110 #6
110 #6
H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) Information
New England Journal of Medicine launches H1N1 blog
The New England Journal of Medicine has started an H1N1 blog that features posts by Tim Uyeki, MD, of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, immunologist John Treanor, MD, and others. Click here to view this resource.
HHS and CDC regional offices to host H1N1 teleconference Dec. 3
On Thursday, Dec. 3 from 9-10 a.m. CST, the Chicago Regional Office of the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offices are hosting a second teleconference call to discuss issues pertaining to the H1N1 virus and vaccine. The purpose is to provide newly emerging H1N1 information and solicit issues from providers in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The call will be hosted by Rear Admiral James Galloway, MD, Assistant Surgeon General and Acting Regional Health Administrator of the DHHS Chicago Office, and Ruth Hughes, CMS Technical Advisor for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The call will include an open Q&A section to solicit any current issues you may be experiencing. CMS representatives from Medicare policy and billing will be available to respond to questions during the call.
To participate in the teleconference, dial 877.267.1577 and enter code 534976.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009
This week the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) issued new recommendations about use of the pneumococcal vaccine to prevent secondary infections in patient groups considered high-risk for H1N1 infection. Click here to read this guidance via the CDC website.
UPDATE: Monday, Nov. 16, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released its latest surveillance report on H1N1 and other viruses. Click here to view it.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2009
This week the Wisconsin Department of Health Services posted to the Wisconsin Pandemic Flu website the latest information on the H1N1 health benefit for uninsured patients. Click here to read an overview of this benefit and click here to access a memo about the benefit the Wisconsin Medicaid director distributed to Wisconsin health care professionals in October.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
The state's chief medical officer, Jeffrey P. Davis, MD, today issued new guidance on using antiviral medications to treat patients with H1N1 flu. This guidance is directed toward Wisconsin physicians, pharmacists, local health department directors, tribal health directors and infection preventionists. Click here to read the guidance.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released a new situation report detailing H1N1 flu activity in Wisconsin. Click here to view it.
UPDATE: Monday, Nov. 2, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released updated H1N1 flu testing guidelines via the Wisconsin Pandemic Flu website. Click here to view the revised guidelines.
UPDATE: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) yesterday published a new set of answers to health care professionals' frequently asked questions about the H1N1 virus and vaccines. Click here to read it.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has issued a new memo containing school closure recommendations for the 2009-2010 flu season. Click here to view the memo.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Patients and health care professionals seeking a flu shot clinic in their community can now find one by dialing 2-1-1. This free and confidential service is available in all 72 Wisconsin counties and includes access to translators.
In addition, 2-1-1 Wisconsin has added a Flu Clinic Locator to its list of services. Users may search by ZIP code for either seasonal or H1N1 flu clinics nearest to their homes. Click here to give it a try.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
The Joint Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have partnered to offer a free educational podcast that helps organizations prepare for the 2009-2010 flu season and improve the effectiveness of their influenza vaccination programs.
Click here to learn more about the podcast and download it.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
In addition, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) has released a new document outlining health care professionals' responsibilities in transferring the H1N1 vaccine from one site to another.
Click here to view this document.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is reminding physicians and other health care professionals that it is important to vaccinate pregnant women against the virus because they are part of a high-risk group.
Click here for more information.
UPDATE: Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a new, free flyer about H1N1 flu for parents that includes tips about when to call the doctor if a child shows flu-like symptoms and when a child should stay home from school or day care.
Click here to view and print the flyer.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) has developed new H1N1 communication toolkits for four different audiences: businesses, child care providers, colleges and universities, and K-12 schools.
Click here to access the toolkits and learn more.
UPDATE: Monday, Oct. 5, 2009
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced that it has published a new CPT code specific to H1N1 vaccine administration and revised existing code 90663 to include the H1N1 vaccine.
Click here for more information on the new and revised codes.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is encouraging the following health care professionals to volunteer for vaccination clinics by contacting their local public health agencies and Medical Reserve Corps units:
UPDATE: Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
The American Medical Association (AMA) is offering a free online tool to facilitate communication between patients and health care professionals during the H1N1 pandemic, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted an online toolkit for organizations developing school-based H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics.
Click here to read an article about these resources from the Sept. 24 issue of Medigram.
UPDATE: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
Physicians and other health care professionals are reminded to check surveillance reports prepared by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for the latest statistics on Wisconsin H1N1 flu cases.
Click here to read the latest surveillance reports on H1N1 and other viruses such as RSV and rotavirus.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted a toolkit for organizations that are developing school-based H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics. This information is primarily for state and local public health department immunization and preparedness staff, but it may also be useful for education officials, school nurses and others interested in planning and carrying out school and community vaccination programs.
Click here to view the toolkit on the CDC's website.
UPDATE: Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that a number of clinical trials of H1N1 vaccines are doing well at preventing H1N1 flu in healthy adults when administered as a single 15-microgram dose.
HHS highlighted a clinical trial conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which has shown a robust immune response in 96 percent of healthy adults age 18-64 and 56 percent of adults 65 and older when administered as a single dose. For details on this study and other H1N1 vaccine clinical trials, read this statement from HHS.
UPDATE: Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently recommended that five target groups be immunized against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus:
UPDATE: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009
Though fall classes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have just begun, flulike symptoms are already presenting themselves. The university has designed a set of "Influenza Information and Prevention" web pages full of tips for students, staff and others to avoid the flu and prevent spreading it if they may be carrying it.
Click here for a recent report on flu cases at the UW, plus prevention advice that's helpful for everyone.
UPDATE: Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new guide to answer health care professionals’ frequently asked questions about the H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine.
This guide has been released in addition to a set of interim guidelines designed to help health care professionals detect novel Influenza A viruses using rapid influenza diagnostic tests. Click here to read the vaccination planning FAQ and here to read the guidance.
UPDATE: Thursday, August 6, 2009
U.S. health officials, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are in the process of revising their guidelines for school closings as they anticipate a wave of H1N1 flu (swine influenza) cases this fall.
U.S. health officials, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are in the process of revising their guidelines for school closings as they anticipate a wave of H1N1 flu (swine influenza) cases this fall.
For a link to the CDC's H1N1 resorce pages, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right.
UPDATE: Thursday, July 30, 2009
In the next two weeks, medical centers across the country will launch human trials for a new vaccine to ward off H1N1 influenza (swine flu), according to a recent announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The goal is to have the vaccine ready for public distribution by October.
This wave of clinical trials is expected to enroll up to 1,000 adult and pediatric patients at 10 medical institutes and will be used to evaluate the new vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. Up to this point, the vaccine has proven to be effective in animal studies. Click here for an NIH description of who will be recruited for the trials and what the researchers will measure.
UPDATE: Friday, July 17, 2009
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Health Services (DHS) are reminding physicians and other health care providers that H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is still in full force. While incidence of most typical seasonal influenzas declines during the summer, H1N1 does not seem to follow this pattern.
As a result, DPH and DHS would like health care professionals to download a “Think Flu” flyer here and distribute it to their colleagues.
If you have questions about this public health initiative, contact DPH’s Diana Ditsch at 608.266.6677.
UPDATE: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A new research report by a team of scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that the H1N1 influenza virus is more virulent than most seasonal flus and may target cells deep in the lung tissue, increasing its potential to be deadly.
Click here to read a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on the research and here to read the researchers' advance online report about their study in the journal Nature.
UPDATE: Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Did you know that state health officials have created public service announcements on H1N1 preparedness and prevention in English, Spanish, Hmong and American Sign Language? Hear what they say here.
UPDATE: Thursday, July 2, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines for businesses and other workplaces to follow to prevent H1N1 flu infections and contain if and when they occur. Click here to read them.
UPDATE: Monday, June 29, 2009
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health has recently issued new guidelines health care professionals should use in testing patients for H1N1 influenza (swine flu).
Testing is currently recommended for people with sepsis or severe febrile syndrome, those hospitalized with severe respiratory illness or living in residential facilities such as prisons or nursing homes, and health care workers with flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough.
UPDATE: Monday, June 22, 2009
The death of a 12-year-old Wausau-area girl is the fourth Wisconsin mortality related to H1N1 influenza (swine flu), according to state health officials. Infection rates remain the highest among children and teenagers both in Wisconsin and nationwide, according to data from the state health department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more information, read this report on the Web site of Milwaukee television channel WTMJ.
UPDATE: Friday. June 19, 2009
Sending a child to camp this summer? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a number of suggestions for reducing the spread of H1N1 influenza (swine flu) among campers. Please read and share.
UPDATE: Monday, June 15, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued specific guidelines about H1N1 flu treatment and prevention for pregnant women and patients with cardiovascular disease. The CDC's H1N1 Guidance Web site also offers tips for clinicians who serve these two patient populations.
UPDATE: Thursday, June 11, 2009
The World Health Organization (WHO) today declared a swine flu (H1N1 influenza) pandemic, the first global flu epidemic in more than 40 years.
WHO Chief Margaret Chan, MD, said that the number of severe and fatal cases of the virus is not expected to increase dramatically. Meanwhile, Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, said an H1N1 immunization campaign may be necessary come September.
Read Dr. Chan's statement on the pandemic here or visit WHO's H1N1 Web page for more information.
UPDATE: Monday, June 8, 2009
Late last week, state health officials reported the first death of a Wisconsin resident that is clearly linked to the H1N1 flu virus. The patient was a Milwaukee resident with a common underlying health condition. For more information, view the press release on the topic from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
UPDATE: Friday, June 5, 2009
Pandemic.wisconsin.gov, the government's Web site for communicating H1N1 flu information to the state, has stopped publishing statistics about the number of state residents who have become ill with the virus. In addition, state officials have halted publication of situation reports that contain these figures. Should these numbers become available again, we will post them to this blog.
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The number of lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 flu has risen to 1,130 in Wisconsin, according to state health officials. A new map illustrating county-by-county data on this novel strain of influenza is now available as well. The map is based on a May 22 update by the Wisconsin Division of Public Health.
For more information on how to prevent H1N1 flu and what to do if you feel sick, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right, or dial 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
State health officials have prepared a new set of H1N1 flu information and guidelines for parents, teachers and others who care for children.
Meanwhile, as of yesterday, 787 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu have been reported in the state. An additional case, still under investigation, is listed as "probable."
For more information on how to prevent H1N1 flu and what to do if you feel sick, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right, or dial 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Thursday, May 14, 2009
As of today, there are 613 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Wisconsin, spread across 23 counties. Throughout the country, there are 4,298 laboratory-confirmed cases in 47 states.
In Wisconsin, Sandra Breitborde, director of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases, has taken over the incident commander post from Dr. Seth Foldy, state health officer. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to recommend that nonessential travel to Mexico be postponed until further notice.
For more information on how to prevent H1N1 flu and what to do if you feel sick, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right, or dial 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
As of yesterday, 414 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu have been reported in Wisconsin. An additional 35 "probable" cases are being analyzed.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reports that, of the patients in these cases:
Instead, this number “is likely due to the excellent response of Wisconsin clinicians in obtaining clinical specimens for testing,” he said in a statement.
For more information on how to prevent H1N1 flu and what to do if you feel sick, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right, or dial 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Thursday, May 7, 2009
State health officials announced yesterday that there are 26 confirmed cases and 176 probable cases of H1N1 flu in Wisconsin. The confirmed cases are from Adams, Brown, Dane, Dunn, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Rock, Sheboygan and Waukesha counties.
Antiviral treatment should be considered for confirmed, probable or suspected cases of H1N1 flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends treatment with one of two antiviral medications, oseltamivir or zanamivir, for these patients, especially those in high-risk groups such as nursing-home residents, pregnant women and children under age 5. For more information on high-risk groups and these two therapies, click here.
While the CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to Mexico at the present time, the World Health Organization (WHO) is not recommending travel restrictions. However, people who are feeling sick should delay travel plans and people who feel ill after returning from travel should visit their primary-care physician.
For the latest H1N1 statistics and announcements, refer to the Flu Resources box at right, and for flu treatment and prevention tips, follow the links in the Beat the Flu box at right.
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The number of "probable" H1N1 flu cases in Wisconsin has risen to 102 as of yesterday, state health officials have confirmed. This number is in addition to the three cases already confirmed as H1N1 type-A influenza by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC urges people with flu-like symptoms to stay home from work and school, avoid close contact with others, and seek medical care promptly. In particular, children under age 5, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions should be evaluated by a physician if they experience symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, chills, headache, fatigue, diarrhea and/or vomiting.
More more information on H1N1 flu, please refer to the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right.
UPDATE: Monday, May 4, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed that there are three cases of H1N1 flu (also known as swine flu, a variety of type-A influenza virus) in Wisconsin: two in Milwaukee County and one in Adams County. Statewide, there are an additional 66 cases that have been classified as “probable” as of yesterday.
Across the country, there are 226 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu, with the majority in New York, Texas, California, Arizona, South Carolina and Delaware. Twenty countries have reported 985 cases of the infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Wisconsin doctors have reported an increase in the number of patients visiting their offices with complaints of flu-like illness, likely due to public concern about H1N1 flu spreading, say sources at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. Symptoms of H1N1 flu include fever, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, body aches and/or fatigue and, in some cases, nausea or diarrhea.
For more information about H1N1 influenza, visit Wisconsin’s Pandemic Flu Resource Page or the CDC Web site, or call 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin in response to the presence of swine influenza A (H1N1) in the state. Five probable swine flu cases have been identified in Wisconsin as of today. Click here for a statement from the Office of the Governor, and click here to view his executive order about the emergency.
UPDATE: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confirmed the death of a 23-month-old child in Texas from the new strain of swine flu today, the first fatality from the condition reported outside Mexico. There have now been 65 confirmed cases in the United States, the majority in New York City. Five hospitalizations have been reported. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
As of April 28, 2009, seven countries have officially reported cases of swine influenza infection. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection including seven deaths. The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths: Canada (six), New Zealand (three), the United Kingdom (two), Israel (two) and Spain (two).
At this time, CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this recommendation will be posted at www.cdc.gov/travel.
Monday, April 27, 2009
As of today, the federal government has reported 40 confirmed human cases of swine influenza A, also known as H1N1 flu. No cases have been reported in Wisconsin; and investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected. H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but public health officials have determined that this strain of swine flu is contagious. spreads from human to human and can cause illness.
Swine flu symptoms are similar to those of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in humans; however, no deaths associated with this outbreak have been reported in the United States.
A number of resources are available for both health care professionals and the public. General information about swine flu along with surveillance information and guidance for health care professionals, is available at CDC.gov and HHS.gov. Information is also available on the American Medical Association’s Web site: www.ama-assn.org.
In addition, guidelines from the Wisconsin Division of Public Health for enhanced surveillance and testing for novel swine influenza virus in Wisconsin are available at the following links:
The New England Journal of Medicine has started an H1N1 blog that features posts by Tim Uyeki, MD, of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, immunologist John Treanor, MD, and others. Click here to view this resource.
HHS and CDC regional offices to host H1N1 teleconference Dec. 3
On Thursday, Dec. 3 from 9-10 a.m. CST, the Chicago Regional Office of the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offices are hosting a second teleconference call to discuss issues pertaining to the H1N1 virus and vaccine. The purpose is to provide newly emerging H1N1 information and solicit issues from providers in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The call will be hosted by Rear Admiral James Galloway, MD, Assistant Surgeon General and Acting Regional Health Administrator of the DHHS Chicago Office, and Ruth Hughes, CMS Technical Advisor for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The call will include an open Q&A section to solicit any current issues you may be experiencing. CMS representatives from Medicare policy and billing will be available to respond to questions during the call.
To participate in the teleconference, dial 877.267.1577 and enter code 534976.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009
This week the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) issued new recommendations about use of the pneumococcal vaccine to prevent secondary infections in patient groups considered high-risk for H1N1 infection. Click here to read this guidance via the CDC website.
UPDATE: Monday, Nov. 16, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released its latest surveillance report on H1N1 and other viruses. Click here to view it.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2009
This week the Wisconsin Department of Health Services posted to the Wisconsin Pandemic Flu website the latest information on the H1N1 health benefit for uninsured patients. Click here to read an overview of this benefit and click here to access a memo about the benefit the Wisconsin Medicaid director distributed to Wisconsin health care professionals in October.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
The state's chief medical officer, Jeffrey P. Davis, MD, today issued new guidance on using antiviral medications to treat patients with H1N1 flu. This guidance is directed toward Wisconsin physicians, pharmacists, local health department directors, tribal health directors and infection preventionists. Click here to read the guidance.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released a new situation report detailing H1N1 flu activity in Wisconsin. Click here to view it.
UPDATE: Monday, Nov. 2, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released updated H1N1 flu testing guidelines via the Wisconsin Pandemic Flu website. Click here to view the revised guidelines.
UPDATE: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) yesterday published a new set of answers to health care professionals' frequently asked questions about the H1N1 virus and vaccines. Click here to read it.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has issued a new memo containing school closure recommendations for the 2009-2010 flu season. Click here to view the memo.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009
Patients and health care professionals seeking a flu shot clinic in their community can now find one by dialing 2-1-1. This free and confidential service is available in all 72 Wisconsin counties and includes access to translators.
In addition, 2-1-1 Wisconsin has added a Flu Clinic Locator to its list of services. Users may search by ZIP code for either seasonal or H1N1 flu clinics nearest to their homes. Click here to give it a try.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
The Joint Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have partnered to offer a free educational podcast that helps organizations prepare for the 2009-2010 flu season and improve the effectiveness of their influenza vaccination programs.
Click here to learn more about the podcast and download it.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
In addition, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) has released a new document outlining health care professionals' responsibilities in transferring the H1N1 vaccine from one site to another.
Click here to view this document.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is reminding physicians and other health care professionals that it is important to vaccinate pregnant women against the virus because they are part of a high-risk group.
Click here for more information.
UPDATE: Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a new, free flyer about H1N1 flu for parents that includes tips about when to call the doctor if a child shows flu-like symptoms and when a child should stay home from school or day care.
Click here to view and print the flyer.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) has developed new H1N1 communication toolkits for four different audiences: businesses, child care providers, colleges and universities, and K-12 schools.
Click here to access the toolkits and learn more.
UPDATE: Monday, Oct. 5, 2009
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced that it has published a new CPT code specific to H1N1 vaccine administration and revised existing code 90663 to include the H1N1 vaccine.
Click here for more information on the new and revised codes.
UPDATE: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is encouraging the following health care professionals to volunteer for vaccination clinics by contacting their local public health agencies and Medical Reserve Corps units:
- Physicians
- Physician assistants
- Nurses (RNs and LPNs)
- Pharmacists
- Medical assistants
- Administrative professionals (operations, clerical, data entry)
UPDATE: Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
The American Medical Association (AMA) is offering a free online tool to facilitate communication between patients and health care professionals during the H1N1 pandemic, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted an online toolkit for organizations developing school-based H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics.
Click here to read an article about these resources from the Sept. 24 issue of Medigram.
UPDATE: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009
Physicians and other health care professionals are reminded to check surveillance reports prepared by the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for the latest statistics on Wisconsin H1N1 flu cases.
Click here to read the latest surveillance reports on H1N1 and other viruses such as RSV and rotavirus.
UPDATE: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted a toolkit for organizations that are developing school-based H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics. This information is primarily for state and local public health department immunization and preparedness staff, but it may also be useful for education officials, school nurses and others interested in planning and carrying out school and community vaccination programs.
Click here to view the toolkit on the CDC's website.
UPDATE: Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that a number of clinical trials of H1N1 vaccines are doing well at preventing H1N1 flu in healthy adults when administered as a single 15-microgram dose.
HHS highlighted a clinical trial conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which has shown a robust immune response in 96 percent of healthy adults age 18-64 and 56 percent of adults 65 and older when administered as a single dose. For details on this study and other H1N1 vaccine clinical trials, read this statement from HHS.
UPDATE: Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently recommended that five target groups be immunized against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus:
- Pregnant women
- Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 6 months
- Children and adults aged 6 months to 24 years
- Health care and emergency workers
- People 25 to 64 years old who have underlying conditions that put them at risk for complications and/or hospitalization from the H1N1 flu.
UPDATE: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009
Though fall classes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have just begun, flulike symptoms are already presenting themselves. The university has designed a set of "Influenza Information and Prevention" web pages full of tips for students, staff and others to avoid the flu and prevent spreading it if they may be carrying it.
Click here for a recent report on flu cases at the UW, plus prevention advice that's helpful for everyone.
UPDATE: Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new guide to answer health care professionals’ frequently asked questions about the H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine.
This guide has been released in addition to a set of interim guidelines designed to help health care professionals detect novel Influenza A viruses using rapid influenza diagnostic tests. Click here to read the vaccination planning FAQ and here to read the guidance.
UPDATE: Thursday, August 6, 2009
U.S. health officials, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are in the process of revising their guidelines for school closings as they anticipate a wave of H1N1 flu (swine influenza) cases this fall.
U.S. health officials, including those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are in the process of revising their guidelines for school closings as they anticipate a wave of H1N1 flu (swine influenza) cases this fall.
For a link to the CDC's H1N1 resorce pages, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right.
UPDATE: Thursday, July 30, 2009
In the next two weeks, medical centers across the country will launch human trials for a new vaccine to ward off H1N1 influenza (swine flu), according to a recent announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The goal is to have the vaccine ready for public distribution by October.
This wave of clinical trials is expected to enroll up to 1,000 adult and pediatric patients at 10 medical institutes and will be used to evaluate the new vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. Up to this point, the vaccine has proven to be effective in animal studies. Click here for an NIH description of who will be recruited for the trials and what the researchers will measure.
UPDATE: Friday, July 17, 2009
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Health Services (DHS) are reminding physicians and other health care providers that H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is still in full force. While incidence of most typical seasonal influenzas declines during the summer, H1N1 does not seem to follow this pattern.
As a result, DPH and DHS would like health care professionals to download a “Think Flu” flyer here and distribute it to their colleagues.
If you have questions about this public health initiative, contact DPH’s Diana Ditsch at 608.266.6677.
UPDATE: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A new research report by a team of scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that the H1N1 influenza virus is more virulent than most seasonal flus and may target cells deep in the lung tissue, increasing its potential to be deadly.
Click here to read a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article on the research and here to read the researchers' advance online report about their study in the journal Nature.
UPDATE: Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Did you know that state health officials have created public service announcements on H1N1 preparedness and prevention in English, Spanish, Hmong and American Sign Language? Hear what they say here.
UPDATE: Thursday, July 2, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines for businesses and other workplaces to follow to prevent H1N1 flu infections and contain if and when they occur. Click here to read them.
UPDATE: Monday, June 29, 2009
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health has recently issued new guidelines health care professionals should use in testing patients for H1N1 influenza (swine flu).
Testing is currently recommended for people with sepsis or severe febrile syndrome, those hospitalized with severe respiratory illness or living in residential facilities such as prisons or nursing homes, and health care workers with flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough.
UPDATE: Monday, June 22, 2009
The death of a 12-year-old Wausau-area girl is the fourth Wisconsin mortality related to H1N1 influenza (swine flu), according to state health officials. Infection rates remain the highest among children and teenagers both in Wisconsin and nationwide, according to data from the state health department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more information, read this report on the Web site of Milwaukee television channel WTMJ.
UPDATE: Friday. June 19, 2009
Sending a child to camp this summer? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a number of suggestions for reducing the spread of H1N1 influenza (swine flu) among campers. Please read and share.
UPDATE: Monday, June 15, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued specific guidelines about H1N1 flu treatment and prevention for pregnant women and patients with cardiovascular disease. The CDC's H1N1 Guidance Web site also offers tips for clinicians who serve these two patient populations.
UPDATE: Thursday, June 11, 2009
The World Health Organization (WHO) today declared a swine flu (H1N1 influenza) pandemic, the first global flu epidemic in more than 40 years.
WHO Chief Margaret Chan, MD, said that the number of severe and fatal cases of the virus is not expected to increase dramatically. Meanwhile, Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, said an H1N1 immunization campaign may be necessary come September.
Read Dr. Chan's statement on the pandemic here or visit WHO's H1N1 Web page for more information.
UPDATE: Monday, June 8, 2009
Late last week, state health officials reported the first death of a Wisconsin resident that is clearly linked to the H1N1 flu virus. The patient was a Milwaukee resident with a common underlying health condition. For more information, view the press release on the topic from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
UPDATE: Friday, June 5, 2009
Pandemic.wisconsin.gov, the government's Web site for communicating H1N1 flu information to the state, has stopped publishing statistics about the number of state residents who have become ill with the virus. In addition, state officials have halted publication of situation reports that contain these figures. Should these numbers become available again, we will post them to this blog.
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The number of lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 flu has risen to 1,130 in Wisconsin, according to state health officials. A new map illustrating county-by-county data on this novel strain of influenza is now available as well. The map is based on a May 22 update by the Wisconsin Division of Public Health.
For more information on how to prevent H1N1 flu and what to do if you feel sick, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right, or dial 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
State health officials have prepared a new set of H1N1 flu information and guidelines for parents, teachers and others who care for children.
Meanwhile, as of yesterday, 787 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu have been reported in the state. An additional case, still under investigation, is listed as "probable."
For more information on how to prevent H1N1 flu and what to do if you feel sick, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right, or dial 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Thursday, May 14, 2009
As of today, there are 613 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Wisconsin, spread across 23 counties. Throughout the country, there are 4,298 laboratory-confirmed cases in 47 states.
In Wisconsin, Sandra Breitborde, director of the Bureau of Communicable Diseases, has taken over the incident commander post from Dr. Seth Foldy, state health officer. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to recommend that nonessential travel to Mexico be postponed until further notice.
For more information on how to prevent H1N1 flu and what to do if you feel sick, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right, or dial 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 12, 2009
As of yesterday, 414 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu have been reported in Wisconsin. An additional 35 "probable" cases are being analyzed.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reports that, of the patients in these cases:
- 74 percent are under age 20.
- Only 1 percent is older than age 60.
- 51 percent are female.
Instead, this number “is likely due to the excellent response of Wisconsin clinicians in obtaining clinical specimens for testing,” he said in a statement.
For more information on how to prevent H1N1 flu and what to do if you feel sick, consult the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right, or dial 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Thursday, May 7, 2009
State health officials announced yesterday that there are 26 confirmed cases and 176 probable cases of H1N1 flu in Wisconsin. The confirmed cases are from Adams, Brown, Dane, Dunn, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Rock, Sheboygan and Waukesha counties.
Antiviral treatment should be considered for confirmed, probable or suspected cases of H1N1 flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends treatment with one of two antiviral medications, oseltamivir or zanamivir, for these patients, especially those in high-risk groups such as nursing-home residents, pregnant women and children under age 5. For more information on high-risk groups and these two therapies, click here.
While the CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to Mexico at the present time, the World Health Organization (WHO) is not recommending travel restrictions. However, people who are feeling sick should delay travel plans and people who feel ill after returning from travel should visit their primary-care physician.
For the latest H1N1 statistics and announcements, refer to the Flu Resources box at right, and for flu treatment and prevention tips, follow the links in the Beat the Flu box at right.
UPDATE: Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The number of "probable" H1N1 flu cases in Wisconsin has risen to 102 as of yesterday, state health officials have confirmed. This number is in addition to the three cases already confirmed as H1N1 type-A influenza by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC urges people with flu-like symptoms to stay home from work and school, avoid close contact with others, and seek medical care promptly. In particular, children under age 5, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions should be evaluated by a physician if they experience symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, chills, headache, fatigue, diarrhea and/or vomiting.
More more information on H1N1 flu, please refer to the Flu Resources and Beat the Flu boxes at right.
UPDATE: Monday, May 4, 2009
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed that there are three cases of H1N1 flu (also known as swine flu, a variety of type-A influenza virus) in Wisconsin: two in Milwaukee County and one in Adams County. Statewide, there are an additional 66 cases that have been classified as “probable” as of yesterday.
Across the country, there are 226 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu, with the majority in New York, Texas, California, Arizona, South Carolina and Delaware. Twenty countries have reported 985 cases of the infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Wisconsin doctors have reported an increase in the number of patients visiting their offices with complaints of flu-like illness, likely due to public concern about H1N1 flu spreading, say sources at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. Symptoms of H1N1 flu include fever, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, body aches and/or fatigue and, in some cases, nausea or diarrhea.
For more information about H1N1 influenza, visit Wisconsin’s Pandemic Flu Resource Page or the CDC Web site, or call 2-1-1.
UPDATE: Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin in response to the presence of swine influenza A (H1N1) in the state. Five probable swine flu cases have been identified in Wisconsin as of today. Click here for a statement from the Office of the Governor, and click here to view his executive order about the emergency.
UPDATE: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confirmed the death of a 23-month-old child in Texas from the new strain of swine flu today, the first fatality from the condition reported outside Mexico. There have now been 65 confirmed cases in the United States, the majority in New York City. Five hospitalizations have been reported. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
As of April 28, 2009, seven countries have officially reported cases of swine influenza infection. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection including seven deaths. The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths: Canada (six), New Zealand (three), the United Kingdom (two), Israel (two) and Spain (two).
At this time, CDC recommends that U.S. travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this recommendation will be posted at www.cdc.gov/travel.
Monday, April 27, 2009
As of today, the federal government has reported 40 confirmed human cases of swine influenza A, also known as H1N1 flu. No cases have been reported in Wisconsin; and investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected. H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but public health officials have determined that this strain of swine flu is contagious. spreads from human to human and can cause illness.
Swine flu symptoms are similar to those of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in humans; however, no deaths associated with this outbreak have been reported in the United States.
A number of resources are available for both health care professionals and the public. General information about swine flu along with surveillance information and guidance for health care professionals, is available at CDC.gov and HHS.gov. Information is also available on the American Medical Association’s Web site: www.ama-assn.org.
In addition, guidelines from the Wisconsin Division of Public Health for enhanced surveillance and testing for novel swine influenza virus in Wisconsin are available at the following links:
- Wisconsin guidance for enhanced surveillance and testing for swine influenza
- Wisconsin guidance for infection Control of patients with swine influenza A infections in health care settings
- Wisconsin interim guidance on antiviral recommendations for patients with confirmed or suspected swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and close contacts
- Wisconsin novel influenza case report form
Flu Resources
Wisconsin: National: International:Beat the Flu:
What You Can Do
Prevention tips for everyoneTips for families
Tips for caregivers
Tips for kids
© Wisconsin Medical Society | All rights reserved | 2011
Contact us here.