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NIOSH Asks Public to Report Health Worker H1N1 Cases
Trying to gather more information about serious illnesses or deaths among health personnel, the agency said it wants to better understand factors that could raise the risk of severe work-related infection.
Oct 20, 2009
NIOSH posted a request Oct. 16 asking the public to report cases where health workers become seriously ill or die from 2009 H1N1 infection. News media reports indicate H1N1 has killed at least four nurses, the agency said, but it added, "Efforts to gain a fuller understanding of the prevalence of serious H1N1 illness and fatalities among nurses, as well as other healthcare personnel, have been limited due to a lack of occupational data in existing healthcare surveillance systems."
Shortcomings in the U.S. disease surveillance system were a concern raised the same day in a Council on Foreign Relations/Science Magazine panel discussion featuring three flu experts.
"More efforts are needed in order to fully appreciate the prevalence of severe H1N1 illness among healthcare workers," NIOSH said. The agency said it is working with partners to collect more information about H1N1 deaths and serious illness among health care personnel. "To augment these efforts, NIOSH is encouraging members of the public to provide us with any information they have regarding cases of serious 2009 H1N1 illness, hospitalization, or fatality among healthcare personnel," the request states. "Such information can be provided by emailing to the following NIOSH email address: nioshwebmaster@cdc.gov. Please provide contact information so that a follow-up email or phone call can be made to obtain more detailed information. Please be aware that the information you provide in your email may be subject to public release."
NIOSH included these precautions based on known risks of exposure for health personnel and known risk factors for complications from influenza:
Health care facilities should follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interim guidance for 2009 H1N1 influenza infection control for health care personnel.
Health care personnel should be encouraged to receive both the seasonal influenza vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when available.
Health care personnel should be informed about and aware of the types of underlying conditions that may put them at higher risk of complications. In addition to pregnant women, those at higher risk for complications of 2009 H1N1 influenza include the following: those with a variety of chronic medical conditions (examples include asthma, sickle cell disease, and diabetes mellitus); people with immunosuppression caused by medications or disease; those with disorders such as neuromuscular disease that compromise respiratory function or handling of respiratory secretions or increase the risk of aspiration; those younger than 19 years of age who are on chronic aspirin therapy; and those 65 years of age or older.
Health care personnel should be informed about and aware of the symptoms of influenza or influenza-like illness, the emergency warning signs to seek urgent care, including but not limited to difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, and the need to seek care aggressively if they have conditions that put them at higher risk of complications of influenza or if they have any concerns about their symptoms.
Health care employers should have flexible, non-punitive, and well-communicated leave policies. They should allow personnel who have the flu to stay home and away from co-workers.
Trying to gather more information about serious illnesses or deaths among health personnel, the agency said it wants to better understand factors that could raise the risk of severe work-related infection.
Oct 20, 2009
NIOSH posted a request Oct. 16 asking the public to report cases where health workers become seriously ill or die from 2009 H1N1 infection. News media reports indicate H1N1 has killed at least four nurses, the agency said, but it added, "Efforts to gain a fuller understanding of the prevalence of serious H1N1 illness and fatalities among nurses, as well as other healthcare personnel, have been limited due to a lack of occupational data in existing healthcare surveillance systems."
Shortcomings in the U.S. disease surveillance system were a concern raised the same day in a Council on Foreign Relations/Science Magazine panel discussion featuring three flu experts.
"More efforts are needed in order to fully appreciate the prevalence of severe H1N1 illness among healthcare workers," NIOSH said. The agency said it is working with partners to collect more information about H1N1 deaths and serious illness among health care personnel. "To augment these efforts, NIOSH is encouraging members of the public to provide us with any information they have regarding cases of serious 2009 H1N1 illness, hospitalization, or fatality among healthcare personnel," the request states. "Such information can be provided by emailing to the following NIOSH email address: nioshwebmaster@cdc.gov. Please provide contact information so that a follow-up email or phone call can be made to obtain more detailed information. Please be aware that the information you provide in your email may be subject to public release."
NIOSH included these precautions based on known risks of exposure for health personnel and known risk factors for complications from influenza:
Health care facilities should follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interim guidance for 2009 H1N1 influenza infection control for health care personnel.
Health care personnel should be encouraged to receive both the seasonal influenza vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine when available.
Health care personnel should be informed about and aware of the types of underlying conditions that may put them at higher risk of complications. In addition to pregnant women, those at higher risk for complications of 2009 H1N1 influenza include the following: those with a variety of chronic medical conditions (examples include asthma, sickle cell disease, and diabetes mellitus); people with immunosuppression caused by medications or disease; those with disorders such as neuromuscular disease that compromise respiratory function or handling of respiratory secretions or increase the risk of aspiration; those younger than 19 years of age who are on chronic aspirin therapy; and those 65 years of age or older.
Health care personnel should be informed about and aware of the symptoms of influenza or influenza-like illness, the emergency warning signs to seek urgent care, including but not limited to difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, and the need to seek care aggressively if they have conditions that put them at higher risk of complications of influenza or if they have any concerns about their symptoms.
Health care employers should have flexible, non-punitive, and well-communicated leave policies. They should allow personnel who have the flu to stay home and away from co-workers.
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