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This week Commissioner Auerbach convened the initial meeting of the Department’s statewide H1N1 Advisory Committee to review and discuss planning for a comprehensive response to Influenza A H1N1 in Fall 2009. Participants included representatives from more that 36 public and private organizations, including the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Massachusetts Medical Society and many others. The Committee will meet monthly to advise the Department on H1N1 planning activities as we continue our planning for the upcoming flu season.
We continue to see influenza-like-illness (ILI) activity at higher levels than we would normally see this time of year in Massachusetts. However, ILI activity has decreased significantly over that past few weeks.
You can read our latest weekly report by clicking here: Download Weekly Report
The CDC gave a media briefing on various H1N1 and seasonal influenza topics on July 24. You can read a full transcript of the briefing by clicking here.
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I don’t suppose you could post documents like the weekly report in a non-proprietary format like pdf. JOHN JACOB RESPONDS: We understand that some of our blog audience is unable to read Microsoft Word documents, so we’ll begin posting a PDF version of the Weekly Case Count as well. Thanks for the feedback.
In your report it looks like for two of the age groups, the number of hospitalized equals the number pregnant. Is this merely a coincidence, or are you seeing most/all of the pregnant patients being hospitalized? JOHN JACOB RESPONDS: Thanks for your question. These matching numbers are indeed a coincidence. Not all of the pregnant women with confirmed cases of H1N1 in each of the age groups were hospitalized; likewise, not all of the hospitalized individuals in each of the age groups were pregnant. However, we do know that pregnant women are among the groups who can be especially vulnerable to complications from the flu. That’s why it’s so important for pregnant women to be especially aware of ways they can protect themselves from catching the flu, and to seek medical care as soon as possible if they do become ill. More information is available at www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu.
Hi Can you post a complete list of participants please? Also What is a comprehensive response in more detail? Thank you ==================== Tom Lyons responds: Hi Rachel, thanks for your question and sorry for the delay in responding. Our planning for the fall flu season includes a number of elements, and will be quite a bit more complex than our response to the H1N1 outbreak this spring. To be sure, there will be some prevention efforts that will be similar (such as our public communication about the importance of hand hygiene and cough etiquette). However, a major difference is the possibility of vaccination to protect people from H1N1 flu. At this point the vaccine is under development and will have to be tested to determine that it is safe to use. Nonetheless, we have to plan now for how to deliver and administer this new vaccine to millions of people. That alone is a significant undertaking. It is complicated even further because when and if the new vaccine is developed, it will distributed and administered seperately from the seasonal flu vaccine (which is a completely seperate vaccine to protect people from the variety of flu that we normally see during flu season.) So you have the seasonal vaccine (one shot), and the possibility of an H1N1 vaccine (given in two shots for most people) which will have to be administered to people during the fall and winter months. Complicated. We’ll also be planning our surveillance activities so we can monitor the public health impact of the flu in our state; our lab testing strategy so we can confirm flu cases in Massachusetts; and we’ll be working with partners throughout the health care system so that we can prepare for the possibility of a surge of people seeking care for the flu. We’ll also be working with community partners on plans that will help us collectively make decisions about things like school closures and other mitigation measures. Our public information plans will also have to be robust so that we can keep the public informed and involved in helping to reduce the spread of illness. Thanks for your question and I’ll send the list of participants to the email address you provided.
Hello, It would be extremely informative for the public to know which towns have/had H1N1 cases in addition to the roll-up report provided each week. I was wondering if there is such a granular report available, and where we might find it. Thank you! ——————— Suzanne Crowther responds: DPH doesn’t release information on cases below the county level.
I wanted to thank you for providing such a detailed report each week. That said, is it possible to include statistics for each county in future reports? I would like to be able to gauge how prevalent H1N1 is in our area. ===================== Tom Lyons responds: Hi April, thanks for your question. Our surveillance systems for the flu don’t break down the data by county, but rather by regions which you can see in the report. The prevalence throughout the state is down significantly from where it was during the peak in early June. Unfortunately, we expect it to come back up again in the fall. That’s why our guidance on prevention steps are given without regard to region. Thanks again for visiting our blog and for commenting.
None of you will be forcing any of this antiquated junk science vaccination program on any one in my family! If you try this you will be sued! The medical data and legal team have already been set in place if you try. Each one of you will be sued individually and collectively. You are the ones contaminating our immune systems and brain functions and damaging the metabolic pathways and you will be prosecuted you bunch of Mengeles. Here are a few facts: QUICK RELATED QUOTE & FACTS: QUOTE: “There’s no conclusive scientific evidence that the amount of mercury one might get from a flu shot is linked with any neurological development outcome that’s negative.” — Jeanne Santoli, deputy director of immunization services division for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FACT: A typical flu shot contains 50,000 parts per billion of mercury. FACT: The EPA classifies a liquid with 200 parts per billion of mercury as hazardous waste. FACT: The legal “safe” limit for mercury in drinking water is 2 parts per billion FACT: For each flu-shot, a 22-pound baby gets more than 25 times the amount of mercury considered safe. And doctors are recommending that many babies and children get two flu shots this season. FACT: A material safety data sheet from Eli Lilly and Co., a former producer of flu vaccines, says exposure to thimerosal may include “fetal changes, decreased offspring survival and lung tissue changes. Exposure in utero and in children may cause mild to severe mental retardation and mild to severe motor coordination impairment.” Don’t bother responding with more repeater brainwashed lies about how you are PROTECTING OUR HEALTH. Vaccines DO NOT PROTECT. ========================= Tom Lyons responds: L, if and when an H1N1 vaccine is deemed safe it will be your choice to be vaccinated. We believe that vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from the flu.