Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Publicat/2009_news/09-100.htm
For immediate release: June 11, 2009 (09-100)
Contacts:
Tim Church, Communications Office 360-236-4077
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076
Swine flu (H1N1): emergency rule requires hospitalization reporting in state
World Health Organization raises pandemic alert level — little effect in Washington
OLYMPIA ¾ Today’s declaration of a "phase six pandemic" by the World Health Organization doesn’t change the swine flu strategy in Washington or the United States. North America was affected early in the outbreak, and tracking, monitoring, prevention, and response work has been under way ever since. The term "pandemic" means that a disease outbreak is occurring on multiple continents around the world at the same time. It doesn’t indicate that a disease is stronger or more severe.
"We’ve been on the leading edge of the outbreak because it came to the nation and our state early," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "We’ve been doing the important work of monitoring this strain of flu in our communities. Now, we’re focusing on the most severe cases — hospitalized patients and fatal cases. Both swine flu and seasonal flu can be serious for some people, so we want people to take it seriously, but keep the risk in perspective and take precautions to prevent illness."
For immediate release: June 11, 2009 (09-100)
Contacts:
Tim Church, Communications Office 360-236-4077
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076
Swine flu (H1N1): emergency rule requires hospitalization reporting in state
World Health Organization raises pandemic alert level — little effect in Washington
OLYMPIA ¾ Today’s declaration of a "phase six pandemic" by the World Health Organization doesn’t change the swine flu strategy in Washington or the United States. North America was affected early in the outbreak, and tracking, monitoring, prevention, and response work has been under way ever since. The term "pandemic" means that a disease outbreak is occurring on multiple continents around the world at the same time. It doesn’t indicate that a disease is stronger or more severe.
"We’ve been on the leading edge of the outbreak because it came to the nation and our state early," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "We’ve been doing the important work of monitoring this strain of flu in our communities. Now, we’re focusing on the most severe cases — hospitalized patients and fatal cases. Both swine flu and seasonal flu can be serious for some people, so we want people to take it seriously, but keep the risk in perspective and take precautions to prevent illness."