H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) Update as of June 8, 2009

NOTE ON REPORTING OF H1N1 CASES: 

Beginning on Thursday, June 11, we will be changing the way that we report on the impact of H1N1 flu (swine flu) in Massachusetts.  On that day we will end the daily county-by-county breakdown and replace that with the weekly report on influenza-like illness that we normally issue during flu season in the fall and winter months.  In addition we will also include a cumulative count of cases of H1N1 flu in the state weekly for as long as we are reporting those cases to the CDC. 

The CDC has transitioned to weekly reports as well.

This transition to a new report does not mean that the outbreak of novel H1N1 flu in our state has ended.  In fact with the report of a case in Dukes County, every Massachusetts county has now had at least one confirmed case.  The new report will allow DPH and the public to continue to monitor flu activity in our state using the routine methods that the department uses during seasonal influenza.  Such a report is not usually issued at this time of year, because historically the number of flu cases identified is low.  However, because of the current outbreak, flu cases continue to be identified at a higher than normal level for this period in the year.

UPDATE ON CASES:
Today DPH confirmed 86 additional H1N1 influenza (swine flu) cases in Massachusetts. This brings the confirmed case count to 940. Eight of the newly confirmed cases were hospitalized. The total cumulative number of hospitalizations is now 65.

DPH continues to work closely with health care providers and local public health departments on community level prevention activities.

Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways; it is impossible to know whether this outbreak will decrease, remain the same, or grow in coming weeks, and whether the illness will remain at its current severity which, on the whole has been relatively mild. Some severe cases may occur in people with underlying risk factors such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and DPH are watching closely for signs of increased severity of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and will continue to monitor and report on any developing trends.
Because there is no vaccine for H1N1 influenza, public health officials remind all Massachusetts residents to continue taking simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.

• If you are sick stay home from work and if your child is sick keep them home from school for 7 days, or 24 hours after your symptoms go away—whichever is longer.

• Stay informed about the latest developments on the H1N1 flu.

For more information on H1N1 flu (swine flu) please visit www.mass.gov/dph.

Download information on cases from 6-08-2009.

There have been no new school closings reported to DPH during this period. View a list of all MA schools which have been closed due to H1N1 Influenza.

Comments

[Steffie]

I have a question - The elderly seem to be affected the least so far -- probably because most of them are not working. Because of the economy many elderly are now working. Are the chances greater for an elderly person to get the swine flu if a spouse or family member is working or are we just more immune to this flu even if we may have never actually had the seasonal flu?

Thanks

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Tom Lyons Responds: Steffie, thanks for your question. We are still learning a lot about this new virus and there are a number of theories under review about why young people are being impacted at a far greater rate than older adults. Some studies have suggested that there may be some acquired immunity to this virus in older adults but those studies are far from conclusive.

Certainly the risk of infection from any flu virus can increase if someone is exposed to a lot of people when there is flu in the community. Often times a family member with the flu will spread the illness to another family member. That is why it is so important for all of us to practice the simple prevention steps of washing our hands often, using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, covering our coughs or sneezes with a tissue (or into our inner elbow) and staying at home from work or school if sick.

It is also important to take the right steps to protect yourself when caring for someone at home with the flu. You can find out more about that at our web site www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu.

[Steffie]

Pleaee isn't there any way you can keep daily reporting? It is important to those of us who are elderly and chronicly ill. Living in Middlesex County and having absolutely necessary repair work ongoing in the house I find the reports helpful. It is scary not knowing for a whole week whether it is getting worse in your area. How will we know when the masks should be put on to go to the store? At least the daily reports show how much activity there is and not how much activity there was during the past week.

Thank you.

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Tom Lyons Responds: Hi Steffie, thank you for your comment -- I'm glad that you find the information that we are providing useful. As the outbreak of novel H1N1 continues, the testing protocols have changed and will continue to change resulting in fewer and fewer people actually being tested. As that happens the value of the daily case counts is less, because even if the number of confirmed cases started to go down it would likely not reflect what is happening with the outbreak. A drop in those numbers would likely signify that fewer people are being tested. Our weekly report will provide more useful information on which to monitor the trend of Influenza-like Illness that we are seeing in Massachusetts.

Also, rest assured that if the situation changes, or there are significant developments with the outbreak, we will communicate those developments to you and the other residents in Massachusetts through a variety of means including the media. In our communication with the public we will always give the most up-to-date information on the best way to protect themselves.

Regardless of how frequently reporting is occurring, you should assume that H1N1 is in your community, and take steps to protect yourself. At this point, the best way you can do that is to wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water, or to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If you have folks in your house, make sure they do the same. And ask them to cover their coughs and sneezes with their inner elbow. This will prevent germs from getting on their hands, and subsequently, getting on things in your home you may touch.

Thank you again for your comment.

[lisa]

This is a e-mail i recevied from DR> DAKIN of the revere school system, this e-mail as made me so angry, and i do not see how then are keeping our children safe

We are only following directives of the Board of Health and the State Department of Health. We have already dropped two days of school. We need to make 180 days, that's why we will not drop any others (we get to 180 on the 19th). In addition, excessive or any other extra cleaning of the building is useless. We were told this by the Department of Health. The germs can not live on a surface more than a couple of minutes, so there is nothing of value to do excessive cleaning in the evening. We were told that outright from the DPH and were told not to waste money doing that.

Our goal, and the goal of the Department of Health, is to keep school in session. If some activities have to be canceled to potentially have fewer kids sick, then that's what we are doing. I hope you can understand that our goal is safety and well being of kids.

Dr. D.

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Dr. Lauren Smith responds: This influenza outbreak has been difficult for parents, school officials and health care providers. The Deptartment of Public Health has issued recommendations focusing on interupting transmission of the virus by focusing on keeping students and staff with flu symptoms home for 7 days, encouraging frequent handwashing and proper cough etiquette.

Routine washing and disinfection of classrooms is reasonable but there is no way to "sterilize" classrooms or other public spaces because they are so easily recontaminated by one cough or sneeze at any point in the day. That is why we have suggested that schools make regular time available throughout the day for hand washing or using hand sanitizer. You should also know that influenza viruses do not live on surfaces once the wet droplet from a sneeze or cough dries out.

We have information on keeping yourself and your children healthy during this outbreak on our website, www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu.

One of the most important things you can do is to teach your child to wash his or her hands for 20 seconds or to use hand sanitizer regularly through out the day and to keep their hands out of their eyes, nose and mouth. These are all good habits that will serve them well during regular flu season this fall and winter.