Immediate Release
May 1, 2009
Little Rock -- No probable cases of the new influenza A /H1N1 virus have been confirmed yet in Arkansas, according to William Mason, M.D., Branch Chief for Preparedness and Response at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). The number of people infected with the virus continues to grow nationwide, with 141 cases in 19 states being confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All influenza tests to date that have come to the Public Health Laboratory have been identified and are not swine flu. Testing will continue over the weekend, so that decisions on how to respond can be made as early as possible.
Today, the CDC has begun to distribute a diagnostic test to public health laboratories across the nation that will allow faster identification of the new influenza A /H1N1 virus in the ADH Public Health Laboratory. That will shorten the time between testing a suspected case here in Arkansas and confirmation that the case is actually the H1N1 virus, which will allow faster response to protect the public.
“We should receive the new test, called a real-time RT-PCR Detection Panel, sometime in the next day or two, and we will be certified to run the test the day after that, so we hope to be up and running by early next week,” Mason said.
ADH continues to monitor conditions around the country through close contact with the CDC and other world and national health organizations. Education on the flu and how to protect individuals and families is being distributed on the agency’s Hotline (1-800-651-3493). Operators at ADH are talking to physicians, hospitals and the public from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. An Emergency operator is also available at 1-800-633-1735. There is a CDC Hotline at 1—800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). The ADH website has important local information and general guidelines in English and Spanish at www.healthyarkansas.com . The CDC website has the best national information at www.cdc.gov.
Yesterday morning, the state received the first shipment of additional antiviral drugs (Tamiflu) from the National Strategic Stockpile. When the remainder arrives over the weekend, the state will have a total of 391,000 courses of treatment for flu symptoms on hand.
The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) are working closely with ADH to establish clear plans for a response that will help to slow the spread of illness in the state when the first cases are reported. If the first cases that are identified are in schools, plans call for closing individual schools with the first cases for 14 consecutive days, according to new guidelines released by the CDC today. Other events and activities for that school would also be postponed or cancelled, and the students would be asked to stay at home until a decision is made about re-opening the school. District superintendants will work with the ADE as they do for weather-related events to close schools.
“Decisions like these can only be made on a case-by-case-basis,” Mason said. “If the first case is not in a school, the decision will be made when we understand the situation a little better.”
ADH is working closely with county health officers, hospitals and clinicians to provide them the most up-to-date information as new developments occur.
“We are seeing a surge of patients in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices across the state, and would urge employers, parents and others to call a doctor before making an unnecessary trip,” Mason said. “Most cases we have seen in this country so far have been very mild, and few hospitalizations have been required. If you or someone you have concern for is ill with the symptoms that have been associated with the virus, we are asking that you call your doctor or a local health unit for advice before getting out.”
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