August 2009
Pandemic Influenza Alert
Hung Cheung, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Sherry Sood, MD, MPH
Dr. Cheung/ OEM Advisor, LLC.
(888) 361-8882
panflu@drcheung-oemadvisor.com
We have received many calls over the last several weeks concerning the upcoming flu season and more specifically H1N1. There appears to be much confusion as well as concern about this issue. Our team has put together the attached H1N1 educational alert to help clarify the current understanding and why public health officials are concerned. Please feel free to call or email us with any questions or forward the attachment to those who may have questions about H1N1. We will monitor the situation and will have periodic updates for you. They will also be posted on our web site under the “In the News” tab. We hope this helps as we strive to be your environmental, occupational and public health resource.
How do we know when it has mutated into a more severe form of the virus?
When viruses mutate into a more severe form, they usually gain the ability to spread more easily, cause severe illness or both, contributing to the severity of an epidemic. We measure the severity of an epidemic by various public health indicators such as case incidence and case fatality rate. The term incidence refers to the number of actual new cases among an exposed population. This number gives us an idea of how fast the virus is spreading. The case fatality rate is determined by monitoring the number of fatalities and the total number of cases and then dividing fatalities by cases. For example, a 60% case fatality rate indicates that 60% of those who have been infected have died. By following this indicator, we can track changes in the ability of the virus to cause severe disease. We can obtain a much earlier warning sign, thus alerting us to institute certain preventive measures. The current case fatality ratio for H1N1 is 0.5-1% while the ratio for the usual seasonal flu is about 0.1%.
Many governmental organizations have web site informational updates on H1N1, including the local health department, the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO). You can also subscribe to e-mail alert provided by Dr. Cheung/ OEM Advisor, LLC, by sending an e-mail to panflu@drcheung-oemadvisor.com. Your name will automatically be added to the emailing updates on H1N1.
While we all hope that a deleterious mutation does not happen, it is wise to have a plan in place in case the virus turns aggressive and extreme public health measures become necessary.
Disclaimer: This message is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate to your individual situation. As the science and knowledge is rapidly evolving, you should monitor the various available resources noted above to keep you updated. Please contact your occupational medicine or public health professionals to assist with a customized plan for your workplace or your community.