Message from the Director: H1N1 Flu UPDATE

I am writing today to update all IHS employees on our efforts to respond to the upcoming flu season, which will include both the regular seasonal flu and the new H1N1 flu. The President and the administration are actively engaged in efforts aimed at slowing the spread of H1N1 flu virus and have developed a national preparedness and response framework for action that builids on the efforts and lessons learned from this spring's initial onset to prepare for a possibilty of a more serious fall outbreak of the virus.

Based on what we know to date, H1N1 is affecting a different population than seasonal flu. In particular, children, young adults, and pregnant women appear to be at more risk for seious medical complications. H1N1 could have a significant impact on our patient population.

Working with Congress, governors, mayors, state and local health departments, tribes, the medical community and our private sector partners, the administration has been actively preparing for all possible H1N1 virus outbreak scenarios that may develop over the next few months. Secretary Sebelius wants us to do everything we can to prepare and respond.

All of us share in the responsibility to plan for this fall's flu season. Given that we expect regular seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu to circulate simultaneously this fall, it is important for every individual, family, school and business to prepare their own household and business plans and think through the steps they will take if a family member or co-worker contracts the flu. As a healthcare system, we need to prepare our response to help educate, prevent and treat the flu in our patients and families.

To help prepare for this responsibility, I am asking everyone to visit the website www.flu.gov to find information that will individuals, families and businesses take the necessary steps to plan for the flu season and limit the spread of the H1N1 virus.

While the Administration is working to make a safe and effective H1N1 vaccine available for distribution as soon as possible, the current estimate is that a vaccine won't be ready for distribution until mid-October at the earliest. This makes preventing the spread of the flu even more critical.

Here's what we are doing and what we need to do as an organization:

1. Understand how to prevent and treat H1N1 (mitigation)
• You can do alot to prevent the spread of H1N1 by washing hands, staying home if you are sick, doing what you can to stay healthy. I have attached a document with tips for what you need to do to avoid getting the flu
• We need to have a plan to diagnose, treat, and refer patients who come down with the flu, especially those at high risk. Our IHS H1N1 Team is meeting weekly and will be working with our providers on protocols for treatment and management of the flu outbreak, including protocols for vaccine administration, antiviral treatment and preventive practices in our clinics and hospitals. If you have questions about clinical issues, contact our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Susan Karol at Headquarters or the Chief Medical Officer in your Area.
• We encourage you to work with your local tribes, schools and businesses to help prevent and treat the flu
2. Vaccination
• We will be receiving the H1N1 vaccine through the state health departments - make sure your facility has been in contact with them to be "first in line" to get the vaccine, especially since we have a high risk population. A list of state contacts for H1N1 vaccine can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/statecontacts.htm.
• Don't forget to coordinate these efforts with administration of the vaccine for seasonal flu
• It is important to remember that the seasonal flu vaccine is different from the H1N1 vaccine. The seasonal vaccine has arrived already in many areas, but the H1N1 vaccine will not be available until mid-October at the earliest.
3. Community Education
• Please do what you can to educate the patients you serve on how they can prevent and access treatment for the flu
• Our H1N1 team is working on a plan for community education and will be sending information to tribes
• We are working on a plan to work with the Native American media to share information
4. Monitoring cases and outbreaks (Surveillance)
• Our Division of Epidemiology and Disease Prevention is working with the CDC to monitor cases and investigate outbreaks in communities
• We are tracking "Influenza-Like Illness" diagnostic codes in RPMS
• If you have questions or need help, contact Dr. Jim Cheek, Director, IHS Division of Epidemiology and Disease Prevention at 505-248-4132.

I have also attached guidelines for IHS staff if they are sick and need to take leave. We would encourage you to stay home if you have the flu to prevent spread among your co-workers. We also encourage managers and supervisors to plan for all contingencies, including how to keep our work moving forward if a number of people in your office or facility are home sick.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Darrell LaRoche, Director, IHS Emergency Services at 301-443-0046.

Thank you for helping us plan and respond to the upcoming flu season.

Yvette Roubideaux, M.D., M.P.H.

Director

Related Documents:

“8 Ways You Can Stay Healthy at Work” (9/3/2009 - DOC - 28KB)

“H1N1 and Absence from duty” (9/3/2009 - DOC - 27KB)

“H1N1 and Absence from duty for Commissioned Officers” (9/3/2009 - DOC - 49KB)