THE communicable disease Communiqué

Transcription

1 THE communicable disease Communiqué M C H E N R Y C O U N T Y D E P A R T M E N T O F H E A L T H COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION INFORMATION Urgent Public Health issues shall be reported immediately (within 3 hours) to the McHenry County Department of Health and include the following: * Anthrax (suspected or confirmed) * Botulism (foodborne) * Plague * Q-fever * Smallpox * Tuleremia * Any suspected Bioterrorist threat REGULAR OFFICE HOURS (Monday Friday 8am 4:30pm) (815) Please ask for one of the following: Communicable Disease Staff: Susan Karras, RN, BSN Communicable Disease Coordinator Faith Schoen, RN, BSN CD Investigator Kathy Ubanus-Bernero, RN CD Investigator Holli Wilke, RN, BSN STD Public Health Nurse Danielle Burck, RN, BSN Public Health Nurse Sue Cooler, RN Public Health Nurse Siobain Daughenbaugh,RN TB Nurse Karen Stephenson, RN, MS TB Nurse Christina Hayes, BS CD Investigator/Health Educator AFTER OFFICE HOURS (Monday Friday 4:30pm 8am; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays) (815) Ask to speak to the Communicable Disease On-Call Person. Mission The Communiqué is a newsletter intended to prevent morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases by providing data and recommendations to clinicians, laboratories, infection control personnel and others who diagnose, treat or report infectious diseases in McHenry County. We welcome comments and suggestions. Please call if you wish to be added to our list. Contact Susan Karras at or slkarras@co.mchenry.il.us S E P T E M B E R W W W. M C D H. I N F O INFLUENZA (FLU) Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can sometimes result in hospitalizations and death. The flu usually comes on suddenly and can cause fever, sore throat, a dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Vomiting and/or diarrhea may occur, although these symptoms are more common in children than adults. Anyone can get the flu, but some people are at greater risk for serious complications. Those at greater risk for complications of the flu are the elderly, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. Table of Contents Influenza...1 Treating with Antivirals... 2 Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis During Outbreaks..2 Benefits of Early Antiviral Treatment.. 3 Promoting the Flu Shot.3 Reporting Requirments.4 Flu Surveillance...4 Reportable Diseases Year- The flu is spread from person to person by droplets that are created to-date.. 5 when an infected individual sneezes, coughs, or talks. The droplets can land directly on the mouths or noses of nearby people. Flu droplets can also be inhaled into the lungs or can enter the body through hand to mouth contact. A person may also get the flu by touching a contaminated surface or object and then putting their hands in their mouth. Individuals infected with the flu can spread it to others up to 6 feet away. People with the flu are contagious 1 day before becoming ill and for up to 5 to 7 days after symptoms resolve. Symptoms typically start 1 to 4 days after becoming infected and can last up to 2 weeks. Some people can carry the flu virus yet remain asymptomatic. These individuals can spread the flu to others even though they are not experiencing any symptoms. Influenza season typically occurs between October and May, but cases can be seen outside of this range. The severity and length of flu seasons vary from year to year. Each flu season it is difficult to predict the severity and timing of illness and which strains are circulating. It is preferable to start vaccinating patients as soon as you receive your flu vaccine. Being vaccinated prior to the start of the season ensures that patients are protected from illness. The best way to protect yourself and others from infection with influenza is by getting an annual flu shot. A flu shot is needed each year because flu viruses are constantly changing and immunity to flu viruses wanes. You can also prevent the spread of flu by avoiding sick people, staying home when you are sick, covering your coughs and sneezes, and by frequently and thoroughly washing your hands with soap and water. Hand sanitizer can be used when soap and water are not available.

2 TREATING WITH ANTIVIRALS The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend prompt treatment with antiviral medication in patients with confirmed or suspected influenza who are hospitalized, have severe, complicated, or progressive illness, or are at higher risk for complications from the flu. Treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after symptom onset (within 48 hours) and decisions on whether or not to treat should not wait for laboratory confirmation of influenza. Antiviral treatment should also be considered for previously healthy, non-hospitalized patients who are not considered high risk. Two prescription antiviral medications are recommended for treatment or prevention of influenza are oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Treatment with antiviral medication is particularly important during seasons when the vaccine is not well matched to the predominant circulating strain. Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis During Outbreaks in Long Term Care Facilities All eligible residents in an entire long-term care facility should receive antiviral chemoprophylaxis as soon as an influenza outbreak is confirmed. Non-ill residents, regardless of vaccination status, should receive chemoprophylaxis with priority given to residents living in the same unit or floors as an ill resident. CDC recommends chemoprophylaxis for a minimum of 2 weeks. If new cases continue to occur, chemoprophylaxis should continue for 10 days after the last known case was identified. In settings with residents at high risk for influenza complications, antiviral chemoprophylaxis is a key component to controlling an outbreak. Chemoprophylaxis should be considered for unvaccinated employees who had close contact with an infected patient without the use of personal protective equipment. During flu seasons when the vaccine is not well matched to the circulating virus, chemoprophylaxis should be considered for all staff regardless of vaccination status. Visit the link below for a toolkit for long term care employers. Visit us on the web at

3 McHENRY COUNTY COMMUNICABLE DISEASES BENEFITS OF EARLY ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT Shortened duration of illness Reduced risk of complications (ear infections in children, pneumonia in adults) Reduced risk of death among hospitalized patients Outbreak control PROMOTE THE FLU SHOT! The CDC continues to recommend the flu vaccine as the best way to protect patients against influenza illness. It is recommended that patients get vaccinated as early as possible so that they are protected once flu season begins. However, there are still benefits to vaccination throughout the flu season. It is never too late to get a flu shot! DISEASE Bacterial Meningitis # OF CASES YTD* 2014 YTD* 2015 Brucellosis Chlamydia Creutzfeldt- Jakob Disease Cryptosporidiosis 1 4 E.Coli 3 8 Cyclosporiasis 0 1 Gonorrhea Group A Streptococcus 6 0 Influenza ICU Admission 7 23 Haemophilius Influenza 2 6 Hepatitis A Hepatitis B 7 12 Hepatitis C HIV 1 3 Histoplasmosis 2 3 Legionellosis 4 0 Lyme Disease Malaria MRSA ( 61 days old) 1 3 Mumps 2 1 Non-Cholera Vibriosis Pertussis Rabies (potential exposure) Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever 4 11 Salmonella Step Pneumonia ( 4 years) Syphilis 4 6 Toxic Shock Syndrome Tuberculosis 5 3 Varicella (Chicken Pox) 18 5 West Nile Virus *YTD data as of July 31st

4 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Report to MCDH within 24 hours Outbreaks of influenza or undiagnosed ILI in residents of large groups or institutional settings (Report as soon as identified) Fatal cases of influenza in children under 18 years of age Laboratory confirmed influenza intensive care unit (ICU) admissions Swine variant influenza-ili in any person with recent swine exposure (within 7 days of illness onset) or contact with a confirmed case (H3N2v or H1N2v) Avian Influenza-ILI severe enough to require inpatient medical care in a person with Recent close contact (within 10 days of illness onset) with a confirmed or suspected case of influenza A:H7N9 or H5N1 virus while the case was ill; or Recent travel (within 10 days of illness onset) to areas where humans have been infected with influenza A: H7N9 or H5N1 or where influenza A: H7N9 or H5N1is circulating in poultry. ANNUAL INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE The McHenry County Department of Health conducts annual influenza surveillance throughout the flu season at sentinel health care sites and at participating schools. Sentinel healthcare sites submit weekly reports of rapid test positive influenza cases and the number of clients seen with influenza like illness (ILI) which is defined as a fever 100 F and cough and/or sore throat in the absence of a known cause other than influenza. Schools throughout McHenry County report daily school absenteeism and absenteeism due to ILI. This helps us monitor influenza activity at the county level. Click the link below to access the most up to date report.

5 McHenry County by the Numbers flu season Flu Outbreaks in Long-term Care Facilities 15 ICU Hospital Admissions due to Flu 25 Influenza Deaths 0 BECOME PART OF OUR BLAST NETWORK Receive the latest health alerts from the CDC, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the McHenry County Department of Health on topics such as: West Nile Virus Flu Updates Bioterrorism Area Outbreaks Other emerging infectious diseases To receive correspondence contact Susan Karras, CD Coordinator by phone or slkarras@co.mchenry.il.us