Commonground
Senior Moderator
NH Surveillance/Laboratory/Disease Monitoring:
? Ongoing surveillance and response to health care reports of influenza-like illness (ILI). Laboratory testing is recommended only for hospitalized patients, health care workers, patients who may be part of a cluster or outbreak in consultation with DPHS, and selected outpatients through the Influenza Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network.
? The web-based surveillance tool for schools was implemented, and over 240 schools were reporting each day as of October 10fh. Schools are asked to report daily absenteeism among students and staff, as well as school nurse visits for ILI. Analysis tool being used to provide weekly maps that are posted at: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/hinischoolguidance.htm.
? Fourteen outbreaks of ILI have been reported in schools as of October 10th.
? ILI Sentinel activity is at 0.9%, which is similar compared with the previous week (0.8%). Preliminary influenza- and pneumonia-related deaths are 6.0%, which is below the epidemic threshold (12.3%).
? NH PHL received 78 specimens for testing during week 40. Three were positive (all three were 2009 AH1N1), 73 were negative, one was rejected, and one is pending.
? Four counties have ILI outbreaks with recent or current lab-confirmed flu in all four of these counties (Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough, and Merrimack), plus an additional county had increased ILI with
recent lab evidence (Rockingham), which warranted reporting of widespread activity for the State (at least half of the reporting regions had either institutional outbreaks with recent lab evidence in the same region or an increase in ILI with recent lab evidence).
? Hospitals are reporting weekly counts of hospitalizations for pneumonia and influenza-like illness to DPHS. During the week ending Oct 10th, a total of 67 patients were hospitalized for pneumonia and/or influenza-like illness, with 14/26 hospitals reporting in this time period.
? Additional detailed information on influenza activity in New Hampshire is available at: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm.
NH Planning and Response Accomplishments:
? Weekly conference calls conducted with All Health Hazard Regions (AHHR) partners to discuss public vaccination clinic and medical surge planning.
? Updated clinical guidance disseminated via HAN on October 9th.
? Hospitals are reporting weekly into a federal web-based surveillance tool on available beds and current impact on hospitals due to a surge in patients, or anticipated problems with human or material resources. During this time period, with 10/27 hospitals reporting, no indications of surge impact noted.
? Meeting conducted on Oct 4th with AHHR and hospital preparedness representatives in partnership with the New Hampshire Hospital Association to discuss hospital?s role in regional medical surge and medical direction and control.
? NH DHHS website enhancements and posting of updated clinical guidance and vaccine distribution information. Revised vaccination plan posted on NH DHHS website October 5th.
? The NH PHL has finalized the flu testing algorithms, and the new testing algorithm has been implemented.
? The NH PHL began using a new spreadsheet to report flu testing results including seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 reverse transcriptase?polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on Oct 4th.
NH Ongoing Planning and Response Activities:
? Review and updating of the NH Med Surge Plan, NH Pandemic Response Plan and review of recent novel H1N1 influenza response.
? Development of patient education and guidance documents supporting the NH Med Surge Plan expected to be finalized the week of October 19th.
? Four regional half-day workshops for health care providers scheduled for: October 19th in Newbury; October 21st in Franconia; October 26th in Brentwood, and October 28th in Bedford. Presentations by senior DPHS staff on H1N1 surveillance; clinical guidance; and vaccination implementation. To register go to: https://www.nh.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx.
For more H1N1 information:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_situation_20090724/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1Flu/
http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/swineflu.htm
? Ongoing surveillance and response to health care reports of influenza-like illness (ILI). Laboratory testing is recommended only for hospitalized patients, health care workers, patients who may be part of a cluster or outbreak in consultation with DPHS, and selected outpatients through the Influenza Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network.
? The web-based surveillance tool for schools was implemented, and over 240 schools were reporting each day as of October 10fh. Schools are asked to report daily absenteeism among students and staff, as well as school nurse visits for ILI. Analysis tool being used to provide weekly maps that are posted at: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/hinischoolguidance.htm.
? Fourteen outbreaks of ILI have been reported in schools as of October 10th.
? ILI Sentinel activity is at 0.9%, which is similar compared with the previous week (0.8%). Preliminary influenza- and pneumonia-related deaths are 6.0%, which is below the epidemic threshold (12.3%).
? NH PHL received 78 specimens for testing during week 40. Three were positive (all three were 2009 AH1N1), 73 were negative, one was rejected, and one is pending.
? Four counties have ILI outbreaks with recent or current lab-confirmed flu in all four of these counties (Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough, and Merrimack), plus an additional county had increased ILI with
recent lab evidence (Rockingham), which warranted reporting of widespread activity for the State (at least half of the reporting regions had either institutional outbreaks with recent lab evidence in the same region or an increase in ILI with recent lab evidence).
? Hospitals are reporting weekly counts of hospitalizations for pneumonia and influenza-like illness to DPHS. During the week ending Oct 10th, a total of 67 patients were hospitalized for pneumonia and/or influenza-like illness, with 14/26 hospitals reporting in this time period.
? Additional detailed information on influenza activity in New Hampshire is available at: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/flu-provider.htm.
NH Planning and Response Accomplishments:
? Weekly conference calls conducted with All Health Hazard Regions (AHHR) partners to discuss public vaccination clinic and medical surge planning.
? Updated clinical guidance disseminated via HAN on October 9th.
? Hospitals are reporting weekly into a federal web-based surveillance tool on available beds and current impact on hospitals due to a surge in patients, or anticipated problems with human or material resources. During this time period, with 10/27 hospitals reporting, no indications of surge impact noted.
? Meeting conducted on Oct 4th with AHHR and hospital preparedness representatives in partnership with the New Hampshire Hospital Association to discuss hospital?s role in regional medical surge and medical direction and control.
? NH DHHS website enhancements and posting of updated clinical guidance and vaccine distribution information. Revised vaccination plan posted on NH DHHS website October 5th.
? The NH PHL has finalized the flu testing algorithms, and the new testing algorithm has been implemented.
? The NH PHL began using a new spreadsheet to report flu testing results including seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 reverse transcriptase?polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on Oct 4th.
NH Ongoing Planning and Response Activities:
? Review and updating of the NH Med Surge Plan, NH Pandemic Response Plan and review of recent novel H1N1 influenza response.
? Development of patient education and guidance documents supporting the NH Med Surge Plan expected to be finalized the week of October 19th.
? Four regional half-day workshops for health care providers scheduled for: October 19th in Newbury; October 21st in Franconia; October 26th in Brentwood, and October 28th in Bedford. Presentations by senior DPHS staff on H1N1 surveillance; clinical guidance; and vaccination implementation. To register go to: https://www.nh.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx.
For more H1N1 information:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/h1n1_situation_20090724/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1Flu/
http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/swineflu.htm