New Hampshire 2009-2010 Flu Season

[Laidback Al]

New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services

http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/default.htm

[Commonground]

Re: New Hampshire Dept. of Health and Human Services - Information and Case Counts


NH Health Director Says Swine Flu Shots Free

Aug 13, 2009 12:36 pm US/Eastern
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) ― New Hampshire's public health director said Thursday that swine flu shots will be provided free sometime this fall and high-risk residents will get the vaccinations first.

Dr. Jose Montero said that once clinical trials on the vaccine are completed, states will have a better idea how many doses they will receive.

Montero said the first to be vaccinated will be pregnant women, people caring for children younger than 6 months, health care and emergency workers, people ages 6 months through 24 years, and people ages 25 through 64 with health conditions putting them at greater risk of complications from the flu.

Insurance companies have agreed to absorb administrative costs of delivering the shots for the high-risk groups, Montero said. He said he has not discussed having them absorb the costs for the rest of the population, but federal funding will cover the costs if insurance does not. New Hampshire has received $3.4 million from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to pay for swine flu clinics and information outreach, he said.

"Nobody will be rejected in New Hampshire because of money," he said.

The CDC says studies indicate that the risk of infection among people age 65 or older is less than for younger groups.

Montero said lower-risk groups will be immunized as the vaccine becomes more plentiful.

Montero said some questions can't be answered until the trials on the vaccine are completed.

Montero said residents could need three flu shots this fall ? one for seasonal flu and two to protect against the swine or H1N1 flu.

Seasonal flu shots are recommended for slightly different age groups. The biggest difference is a recommendation for people age 50 or older to be vaccinated, Montero said.

School nurses have been preparing for the possibility of the virus returning stronger this fall. Montero said swine flu has been active all summer.

Montero, Gov. John Lynch and other state officials offered the same prevention advice given last spring: cover the mouth when coughing, wash hands frequently and stay home one day after the symptoms stop.

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 2

Week 2: Local activity

Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were similar compared to the previous week at 0.3% and 3.1% of patient visits, respectively.
• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 10.6% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 14.9% for week 2.
• Forty-eight new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 2 and zero were positive for influenza; 43 were negative, and five were rejected.

P&I: 10.6%. (This is below the epidemic threshold for week 2 (14.9%)
10/04/09–1/25/10: 8 total deaths

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/NR/rdonlyres/ekhk5hht2nqcy3svcotpqibj54rwxiroebx6zhnqhl7vy574mwp4eh25xemrr3cchl5fojz7g7ojvipf6l4nnpuynvc/weeklyflu.pdf

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 3

Week 3: sporadic

• Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were similar compared to the previous week at 0.2% and 2.9% of patient visits, respectively.
• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 10.7% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 13.2% for week 3.
• Thirty-nine new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 3 and zero were positive for influenza; all 39 were negative.

http://www.nh.gov/h1n1/index.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 4 (9 deaths since Oct)

Week 4: sporadic

No new deaths (Oct-present 9 deaths)
? Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were similar or slightly increased compared to the previous week at 0.1% and 3.3% of patient visits, respectively.
? Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 6.7% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 14.2% for week 4.
? Thirty-one new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 4 and zero were positive for influenza; 29 were negative and two were rejected.

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 5 (9 deaths since Oct)

Week 5: No activity

No new deaths; 9 total
Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were slightly increased or similar compared to the previous week at 0.3% and 3.3% of patient visits, respectively.

• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 6.0% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 18.7% for week 5.
• Twenty-eight new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 5 and zero were positive for influenza; 25 were negative and three were rejected.

No detection: "Specimens labeled as inconclusive had repeatedly inconclusive results - unable to obtain positive results with all the PCR targets, most likely due to low virus titer."

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 6 "NO ACTIVITY" (9 deaths since Oct)

Week 6: No Activity

? Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were the same or slightly increased compared to the previous week at 0.3% and 3.7% of patient visits, respectively.
? Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 11.0% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 13.5% for week 6.
? Thirty-seven new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 6 and zero were positive for influenza; 33 were negative and four were rejected

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/NR/rdonlyres/ekhk5hht2nqcy3svcotpqibj54rwxiroebx6zhnqhl7vy574mwp4eh25xemrr3cchl5fojz7g7ojvipf6l4nnpuynvc/weeklyflu.pdf

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 7 "NO ACTIVITY" (9 deaths since Oct)

Week 7: No activity

ILI: 0.3% (same as last week)
Percent positive: 0
P&I: 11.3%

http://www.nh.gov/h1n1/index.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 8 (9 deaths since Oct)

Week 8: sporadic (increase)

• Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were slightly decreased or the same compared to the previous week at 0.1% and 3.5% of patient visits, respectively.
• P&I: 9.0% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 12.5% for week 8.
• Thirty-five new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 8 and one was positive for influenza; the positive specimen was identified as 2009 influenza A(H1N1), 31 were negative and three were rejected.

http://www.nh.gov/h1n1/index.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 9 (9 deaths since Oct)

Week 9: No Activity (decrease)

Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were similar compared to the previous week at 0.2% and 3.4% of patient visits, respectively.
• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 9.3% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 14.4% for week 9.
• Thirty-three new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 9 and zero were positive for influenza; 26 were negative and seven were rejected.

For week 9 (2/28/10–3/06/10) 72 patients were hospitalized for P&I, based on 15 hospitals reporting. These patients may or may not have been tested for influenza.

P&I: 9.3%

For week 9 (2/28/10–3/06/10), absenteeism rates by SAU ranged from 0.2% to 9.7% based on 250 (52% reporting) schools reporting number of students absent, and student absenteeism for ILI ranged from 0.0% to 0.9% for the week based on 195 (41% reporting) schools reporting students absent due to ILI.

http://www.nh.gov/h1n1/index.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 10 (9 deaths since Oct)

Week 10: No Activity

• Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were similar or slightly decreased compared to the previous week at 0.1% and 2.8% of patient visits, respectively.
• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 5.2% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 14.1% for week 10.
• Twenty-five new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 10 and zero were positive for influenza; 24 were negative and one was rejected.
• NH reported ‘no activity’ for week 10.

For week 10 (3/07/10–3/13/10), absenteeism rates by SAU ranged from 0.1% to 7.7% based on 235 (49% reporting) schools reporting number of students absent, and student absenteeism for ILI ranged from 0.0% to 0.3% for the week based on 191 (40% reporting) schools reporting students absent due to ILI.

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 11 -One new death (10 deaths since Oct)

Week 11: No Activity

One new death; total 10

• Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were similar compared to the previous week at 0.2% and 3.0% of patient visits, respectively.
• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 7.8% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 12.8% for week 11.
• Fourteen new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 11 and zero were positive for influenza; 13 were negative and one was rejected.

64 patients were hospitalized for P&I, based on 15 hospitals reporting. These patients may or may not have been tested for influenza.

7.8% of all deaths recorded in NH were reported as due to P&I. This is below the epidemic threshold for week 11 (12.8%).

Since Oct 4: 259 hospitalized; 472 total cases

For week 11 (3/14/10–3/20/10), absenteeism rates by SAU ranged from 0.2% to 8.5% based on 231 (48% reporting) schools reporting number of students absent, and student absenteeism for ILI ranged from 0.0% to 0.4% for the week based on 187 (39% reporting) schools reporting students absent due to ILI.

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 12 -No new death (10 deaths since Oct)

Week 12: No Activity

• Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were the same or decreased
compared to the previous week at 0.2% and 2.0% of patient visits, respectively.
• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 10.1% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 15.4% for week 12.
• Twenty-five new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 12 and zero were positive for influenza; 19 were negative and six were rejected.

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 13 -No new death (10 deaths since Oct)

Week 13: No Activity

Summary MMWR Week 13 Activity
• Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were similar or increased compared to the previous week at 0.1% and 3.0% of patient visits, respectively.
• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 8.6% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 12.0% for week 13.
• Sixteen new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 13 and zero were positive for influenza; 14 were negative and two were rejected.

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm

[Missouriwatcher]

Re: New Hampshire - Week 14 -No Activity

Week 14: No Activity

• Influenza-like illness and acute respiratory illness were similar or decreased compared to the previous week at 0.2% and 2.2% of patient visits, respectively.
• Pneumonia and influenza-related deaths accounted for 5.2% of deaths, which was below the epidemic threshold of 14.2% for week 14.
• Eighteen new respiratory specimens were submitted for laboratory testing during week 14 and zero were positive for influenza; all 18 were negative.

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm