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http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16256337.htm
Ohio worried about lack of antiviral medication
MATT LEINGANG
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Lack of antiviral medication is among the biggest problems that Ohio public health officials are facing as they plan for a flu pandemic.
About 3 million of the state's 11 million residents could get sick and up to 67,000 could be hospitalized in such an outbreak, according to the state Health Department.
Ohio spent $3 million in federal money this year to begin stockpiling antivirals - medicine that destroys a virus or interferes with its ability to grow and reproduce. But another $17 million is needed to have enough of the medicine to go around, said Steve Wagner, assistant division chief with the state Health Department.
State lawmakers will decide whether to set aside the money in next year's capital budget.
"It's a calculated hope that if we see a pandemic that the antiviral will be effective," Wagner said. "It's possible that it won't, but it's important for us to try and have it ready."
Pushed by the federal government, officials in Ohio and other states have been trying to prepare for a potential deadly new form of influenza. Experts believe such an outbreak is inevitable, and they worry the bird flu circulating in Asia could become the agent.
Ohio has 45,500 hospital beds, according to the health department. Another 10,000 could be freed up in an emergency by canceling elective surgeries, discharging non-critical patients and setting up alternate treatment sites in cafeterias or other available spaces.
Plans also call for hospitals to set up "acute care centers" - MASH-type units in warehouses or other large buildings that can serve as functional hospitals.
Some treatment also can be handled in a patient's home, Wagner said.
Ohio has about 2,000 nurses, doctors and other medical professionals in the state's Medical Reserve Corps - volunteers who have agreed to help their communities during public health emergencies, Wagner said.
Ohio ranked in the bottom half of states on a national planning report card released this month by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health in Washington. The group gave Ohio points for having enough hospital surge capacity and for having adequate outbreak surveillance. But Ohio has a nursing shortage and needs more high-level scientific labs, the group said.
Wagner said citizens will have to take personal responsibility in helping to control spread of the disease, too - simple things such as covering their mouths and noses with tissue when coughing and sneezing, washing their hands often, staying home when sick and following orders that may restrict public gatherings.
"When something catastrophic occurs, it is difficult for government to solve all the issues. The public has to take care of itself to some extent," Wagner said.
Wagner said people should also think ahead and make their own emergency disaster plans, including stockpiling food and other essential household items.
Ohio worried about lack of antiviral medication
MATT LEINGANG
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Lack of antiviral medication is among the biggest problems that Ohio public health officials are facing as they plan for a flu pandemic.
About 3 million of the state's 11 million residents could get sick and up to 67,000 could be hospitalized in such an outbreak, according to the state Health Department.
Ohio spent $3 million in federal money this year to begin stockpiling antivirals - medicine that destroys a virus or interferes with its ability to grow and reproduce. But another $17 million is needed to have enough of the medicine to go around, said Steve Wagner, assistant division chief with the state Health Department.
State lawmakers will decide whether to set aside the money in next year's capital budget.
"It's a calculated hope that if we see a pandemic that the antiviral will be effective," Wagner said. "It's possible that it won't, but it's important for us to try and have it ready."
Pushed by the federal government, officials in Ohio and other states have been trying to prepare for a potential deadly new form of influenza. Experts believe such an outbreak is inevitable, and they worry the bird flu circulating in Asia could become the agent.
Ohio has 45,500 hospital beds, according to the health department. Another 10,000 could be freed up in an emergency by canceling elective surgeries, discharging non-critical patients and setting up alternate treatment sites in cafeterias or other available spaces.
Plans also call for hospitals to set up "acute care centers" - MASH-type units in warehouses or other large buildings that can serve as functional hospitals.
Some treatment also can be handled in a patient's home, Wagner said.
Ohio has about 2,000 nurses, doctors and other medical professionals in the state's Medical Reserve Corps - volunteers who have agreed to help their communities during public health emergencies, Wagner said.
Ohio ranked in the bottom half of states on a national planning report card released this month by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health in Washington. The group gave Ohio points for having enough hospital surge capacity and for having adequate outbreak surveillance. But Ohio has a nursing shortage and needs more high-level scientific labs, the group said.
Wagner said citizens will have to take personal responsibility in helping to control spread of the disease, too - simple things such as covering their mouths and noses with tissue when coughing and sneezing, washing their hands often, staying home when sick and following orders that may restrict public gatherings.
"When something catastrophic occurs, it is difficult for government to solve all the issues. The public has to take care of itself to some extent," Wagner said.
Wagner said people should also think ahead and make their own emergency disaster plans, including stockpiling food and other essential household items.