Minnesota Summit on H1N1 Virus

[Pathfinder]

Posted at: 09/14/2009 7:18 PM
By: Mary Taing

Minnesota Summit on H1N1 Virus
(ABC 6 NEWS) --

More than 600 people from county health, local businesses, and first responders gathered in Brooklyn Center to get an update from state health officials on the H1N1 virus.

They're learning there will be foreseeable problems when trying to fight this pandemic.

"It's here and it's coming and it's coming fast," says Michael Osterholm, Director of Infectious Disease at University Of Minnesota.

Health officials say the H1N1 fight is not going to be easy.

First of all, there are talks that not enough vaccines will get to us in time now that the virus is already here.

"The next 6 to 8 weeks will be the peak, by mid to early October," says Osterholm.

Other countries are already seeing high absenteeism of workers.

Osterholm says that's concerning, because a lot of the mass medical products that we get are imports.

"If we don't have critical medications, we don't have mass respirators?we don't have those things we need, we're in trouble," he said.

Health officials are urging employers and schools not to require notes for those out sick, because all it does is flood the urgent care unit.

It's something many clinics are already seeing.

"Let their employees stay at home without a lot of barriers," says Pete Giesen from Olmsted County Public Health.

With these foreseeable problems, officials say it's more important now than ever for people to maintain a healthy hygiene.

"Even though we say that over and over again, it's something that really is the first line of defense," says Giesen.

The Minnesota Department of Health will hold another summit, this time talking with world health leaders to try to find a way to fight this pandemic on a global scale.

That meeting is set to take place in Minneapolis on September 22nd.


http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S1138471.shtml?cat=10219

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Minnesota Summit on H1N1 Virus

By MAURA LERNER, Star Tribune

Last update: September 15, 2009

The long-anticipated fall outbreak of swine flu has begun in Minnesota, with clusters of new cases cropping up at schools and universities, health officials said Monday.

Speaking at a flu pandemic summit that drew more than 600 people, State Epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield said, "We're now experiencing our second wave.''

At the same time, Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert, predicted that the number of cases will peak in the next six to eight weeks, sending absenteeism rates soaring from schools to businesses.

"The bottom line is, it's here," Osterholm told the audience of health, business and government officials gathered in Brooklyn Center. He noted that "none of us can tell you, 12 hours from now, what this virus is going to do." He said he won't be surprised if major sporting events are canceled in the next few months because teams have too many players fighting the flu.

"This train has left the station," he said. "It's moving and gaining steam."

Osterholm also warned that cases of the novel flu strain could peak before enough vaccine arrives, possibly in October.

"I'm afraid too little vaccine is going to get here before the peak hits," said Osterholm, director of the university's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

Experts have predicted for months that the flu pandemic, which hit Minnesota in April and faded over the summer, would get a second wind once school started.

The vast majority of cases are still relatively mild, Osterholm noted, "but for that other 1 percent, this disease has been hell." In Minnesota alone, 267 people have been hospitalized, and three have died, with the majority of severe cases affecting children and young adults, officials said.

Some advice for employers

Health experts also warned that the fast-spreading virus could pose new challenges for everyone, from parents to church leaders to business owners.


http://www.startribune.com/lifestyl...rksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ