Rwilmer
Well-known member
Reported by: Mike McClanahan
Last Update: 11:36 pm
Dr. Richard Whitley is Director of Pediatric Infections at UAB. He was also appointed to a Presidential committee to study the national threat posed by H1N1 Swine Flu. Dr. Whitley says they reviewed U.S. preparedness to deal with the disease including vaccines antivirals, decision making, communication, and education. The White House released their report this week.
"At a national level we have not exceeded the thresholds for seasonal influenza which just simply tells us we're having the normal number of cases that we would anticipate just at a little bit different time of year," said Richard Whitley, M.D. "In Jefferson County we're seeing an increasing number of novel H1N1 or swine influenza cases. Fortunately mortality has not been an issue with the influenza strain that's circulating. We're seeing children and adults who are ill, but they're not seriously ill. They're ill, they don't feel well, and they need to stay home from work or school."
Earlier this week Jefferson County Schools reported nine confirmed flu cases believed to be H1N1. Hoover City Schools have reported 30 cases of the flu. Shelby County Schools had 40 confirmed flu cases and around 350 students call out sick or check out of school.
"I would say the majority of the illnesses that we're seeing here have been flu related, but we are also seeing a lot of other things like strep throat," said Cindy warner, Spokesperson for Shelby County Schools.
Dr. Anne Theile of Midtown Pediatrics says some of the H1N1 cases she's seen have been so mild she was surprised when the tests came back positive. However she says the medical community wants to monitor the situation closely.
"We remain concerned that their may be more severe cases to come as it picks up speed and as it goes on. We remember the lessons of history from the 1918-1919 flu pandemic. We have more tricks up our sleeves now as a medical community, but we still do our best to be prepared and we want to sort out what we can," said Dr. Anne Theile, M.D.
Dr. Whitley says Alabama residents should be pleased with the effort put forth by public health professionals and the private sector at the state and local level to deal with the new flu strain.
"We're not going to see seasonal influenza until December or January and so we anticipate that we'll have two flu seasons this year. One will be novel H1N1 or swine flu and that that will be followed by seasonal influenza either H3N2 or seasonal H1N1," said Richard Whitley, M.D. "Here in Birmingham the health department, Children's Hospital, and UAB are all working together to make sure that we have the resources and the facilities to care for our residents if we see an exceedingly large number of people who become very ill."
http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/H1N1-Expert-Predicts-Two-Flu-Seasons-This-Year/4C1NQzmmAUOxjgPrXqZZHg.cspx
Last Update: 11:36 pm
Dr. Richard Whitley is Director of Pediatric Infections at UAB. He was also appointed to a Presidential committee to study the national threat posed by H1N1 Swine Flu. Dr. Whitley says they reviewed U.S. preparedness to deal with the disease including vaccines antivirals, decision making, communication, and education. The White House released their report this week.
"At a national level we have not exceeded the thresholds for seasonal influenza which just simply tells us we're having the normal number of cases that we would anticipate just at a little bit different time of year," said Richard Whitley, M.D. "In Jefferson County we're seeing an increasing number of novel H1N1 or swine influenza cases. Fortunately mortality has not been an issue with the influenza strain that's circulating. We're seeing children and adults who are ill, but they're not seriously ill. They're ill, they don't feel well, and they need to stay home from work or school."
Earlier this week Jefferson County Schools reported nine confirmed flu cases believed to be H1N1. Hoover City Schools have reported 30 cases of the flu. Shelby County Schools had 40 confirmed flu cases and around 350 students call out sick or check out of school.
"I would say the majority of the illnesses that we're seeing here have been flu related, but we are also seeing a lot of other things like strep throat," said Cindy warner, Spokesperson for Shelby County Schools.
Dr. Anne Theile of Midtown Pediatrics says some of the H1N1 cases she's seen have been so mild she was surprised when the tests came back positive. However she says the medical community wants to monitor the situation closely.
"We remain concerned that their may be more severe cases to come as it picks up speed and as it goes on. We remember the lessons of history from the 1918-1919 flu pandemic. We have more tricks up our sleeves now as a medical community, but we still do our best to be prepared and we want to sort out what we can," said Dr. Anne Theile, M.D.
Dr. Whitley says Alabama residents should be pleased with the effort put forth by public health professionals and the private sector at the state and local level to deal with the new flu strain.
"We're not going to see seasonal influenza until December or January and so we anticipate that we'll have two flu seasons this year. One will be novel H1N1 or swine flu and that that will be followed by seasonal influenza either H3N2 or seasonal H1N1," said Richard Whitley, M.D. "Here in Birmingham the health department, Children's Hospital, and UAB are all working together to make sure that we have the resources and the facilities to care for our residents if we see an exceedingly large number of people who become very ill."
http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/H1N1-Expert-Predicts-Two-Flu-Seasons-This-Year/4C1NQzmmAUOxjgPrXqZZHg.cspx