The Ingham County Health Department has been notified by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) that Ingham County has its first confirmed human case of influenza A(H1N1). The individual, a 49 year old male, was not hospitalized and is recovering. This confirmed case does not come as a surprise, as H1N1 continues to spread throughout the world, we anticipate that additional confirmed cases will occur in
Ingham County. The Health Department continues passive surveillance for H1N1 in coordination with our communiay partners.
A person who is at high-risk for complications of novel influenza (H1N1) virus infection is defined as the same for seasonal influenza:
● Children younger than 5 years old. The risk for severe
complications from seasonal influenza is highest among children younger than 2 years old.
● Adults 65 years of age and older.
● Persons with the following conditions:
o Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
o Immunosuppression, including that caused by medications or by
HIV;
o Pregnant women;
o Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term
aspirin therapy;
o Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.
At this time, treatment is recommended for:
1. All hospitalized patients with confirmed, probable or suspected
novel influenza (H1N1).
2. Patients who are at high risk for seasonal influenza
complications (see above).
Post exposure antiviral chemoprophylaxis with either Tamiflu or Relenza
can be considered for the following:
1. Close contacts of cases (confirmed, probable, or suspected) who
are at high-risk for complications of influenza
2. Health care personnel, public health workers, or first responders who haves had a recognized, unprotected close contact exposure to a person with novel (H1N1) influenza virus infection (confirmed, probable, or suspected) during that person’s infectiousperiod. Information on appropriate personal protective equipment is available at: Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting and might be updated frequently as additional information on transmission becomes available.
Health care workers should use precautions:
Healthcare facilities should establish mechanisms to screen patients for signs and symptoms of febrile respiratory illness at point of entry to the facility. Provisions should be made to allow for prompt isolation and assessment of symptomatic patients.
All healthcare personnel who enter the patient’s room should take standard and contact precautions. Non-sterile gloves and gown, fit-tested, disposable N95 mask, along with eye protection should bedonned when entering a patient’s room. Maintain adherence to hand hygiene by washing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately after removing gloves and other equipment and after any contact with respiratory secretions. (See Personal ProtectiveEquipment (PPE) in Healthcare Settings)
What you can do:
We encourage individuals to continue everyday healthy practices, such
as:
o Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
o Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, to avoid spreading
germs.
