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Source: http://lohud.com/article/20090813/NEWS05/908130418/-1/SPORTS
Health Department seeks volunteers to help with possible H1N1 outbreak
By Heather Senison ? Albany Bureau ? August 13, 2009
ALBANY ? Fearing another outbreak of the H1N1 virus in the fall, the state Health Department is seeking volunteers ? from the medical community and the general public ? to possibly administer vaccines and assist in the delivery of services.
The request comes after the Health Department last week declared the H1N1 influenza virus a threat to public health in New York and announced additional aid to local communities in preparation of another outbreak.
Health commissioners from across the state met last week to discuss how to respond to a possible re-emergence of the virus.
?We are helping our local partners to mount an effective response should there be a significant outbreak this fall,? state Health Commissioner Richard Daines said in a statement.
As a result, the Health Department is looking to bolster the number of volunteers through a statewide Web-based coalition, www.nyhealth.gov/servny, that can be tapped in the case of statewide emergencies, including a new round of the so-called swine flu virus. The Web site was launched in an effort to make disaster-relief coordination more efficient.
Robert Burhans, director of the state Office of Health Emergency Preparedness, a branch of the Health Department, said another outbreak of swine flu is possible, but that?s not the only reason the Web site was established.
?If it follows patterns that we?ve seen in the past, this fall it is likely to come back ? so we need to be prepared for that eventuality,? Burhans said.
The severity of the disease remains stagnant, but there are still cases being reported around New York. Burhans said the most cases are reported from individuals attending children?s summer camps.
Outside New York City last week, there were 10 cases confirmed, six of which were in Westchester County. Westchester health officials yesterday declined to discuss the origin of those cases.
(2 of 2)
Since the virus first hit the state in April, New York has reported 1,196 cases of the H1N1 virus outside New York City, with the most, 278, found in Erie County, followed by 177 cases in Suffolk County and 121 cases in Westchester.
The state announced last week that reimbursements to local health departments would be increased from 36 percent to 50 percent for H1N1 treatment.
Volunteers can register to be statewide volunteers, meaning they could be sent to help anywhere in the state, or they can register as local volunteers ? or both.
As of Tuesday, there were almost 1,300 individuals registered as statewide volunteers and roughly 1,200 as local volunteers.
The Web site collects contact information; credentials; current health-care practice information, such as instances of malpractice lawsuits; and other pertinent information.
When the state deploys volunteers, it provides them with transportation, food and lodging. The state receives federal aid and other funds to support the disaster relief costs, officials said.
For more information on the volunteer program, visit www.nyhealth.gov/servny.
Health Department seeks volunteers to help with possible H1N1 outbreak
By Heather Senison ? Albany Bureau ? August 13, 2009
ALBANY ? Fearing another outbreak of the H1N1 virus in the fall, the state Health Department is seeking volunteers ? from the medical community and the general public ? to possibly administer vaccines and assist in the delivery of services.
The request comes after the Health Department last week declared the H1N1 influenza virus a threat to public health in New York and announced additional aid to local communities in preparation of another outbreak.
Health commissioners from across the state met last week to discuss how to respond to a possible re-emergence of the virus.
?We are helping our local partners to mount an effective response should there be a significant outbreak this fall,? state Health Commissioner Richard Daines said in a statement.
As a result, the Health Department is looking to bolster the number of volunteers through a statewide Web-based coalition, www.nyhealth.gov/servny, that can be tapped in the case of statewide emergencies, including a new round of the so-called swine flu virus. The Web site was launched in an effort to make disaster-relief coordination more efficient.
Robert Burhans, director of the state Office of Health Emergency Preparedness, a branch of the Health Department, said another outbreak of swine flu is possible, but that?s not the only reason the Web site was established.
?If it follows patterns that we?ve seen in the past, this fall it is likely to come back ? so we need to be prepared for that eventuality,? Burhans said.
The severity of the disease remains stagnant, but there are still cases being reported around New York. Burhans said the most cases are reported from individuals attending children?s summer camps.
Outside New York City last week, there were 10 cases confirmed, six of which were in Westchester County. Westchester health officials yesterday declined to discuss the origin of those cases.
(2 of 2)
Since the virus first hit the state in April, New York has reported 1,196 cases of the H1N1 virus outside New York City, with the most, 278, found in Erie County, followed by 177 cases in Suffolk County and 121 cases in Westchester.
The state announced last week that reimbursements to local health departments would be increased from 36 percent to 50 percent for H1N1 treatment.
Volunteers can register to be statewide volunteers, meaning they could be sent to help anywhere in the state, or they can register as local volunteers ? or both.
As of Tuesday, there were almost 1,300 individuals registered as statewide volunteers and roughly 1,200 as local volunteers.
The Web site collects contact information; credentials; current health-care practice information, such as instances of malpractice lawsuits; and other pertinent information.
When the state deploys volunteers, it provides them with transportation, food and lodging. The state receives federal aid and other funds to support the disaster relief costs, officials said.
For more information on the volunteer program, visit www.nyhealth.gov/servny.