H1N1 (swine) flu update, April 30, 2009 Published April 30, 2009 KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- CDC CHANGES NAME OF VIRUS The Center for Disease Control is now referring to the H1N1 Virus as the Swine-Origin Influenza Virus. LEVEL OF INFLUENZA PANDEMIC ALERT RAISED FROM PHASE 4 TO 5 April 29 -- Based on assessment of all available information and following several expert consultations, Dr Margaret Chan, World Health Organization's Director-General raised the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to 5. PHASE 5 Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short. 9 COUNTRIES, 148 CASES The situation continues to evolve rapidly. As of April 29, nine countries have officially reported 148 cases of Swine-Origin Influenza Virus infection. The U. S. Government has reported 91 laboratory confirmed human cases, with one death. The following countries have reported confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (13), Germany (3), Israel (2), New Zealand (3), Spain (4) and the United Kingdom (5). NEW MEXICO CASES The Santa Fe New Mexican is reporting two N.M. cases Gov. Bill Richardson and state Department of Health officials announced Wednesday that preliminary testing by the state found the flu likely in a 1-year-old boy from Santa Fe County and an 18-year-old male from Valencia County. Both are recovering. The infant was hospitalized, but the teenager wasn't. The Valencia County teenager was being home-schooled and did not attend public schools. MILITARY/DEPENDENT REPORTING Military and their family members who use local medical facilities are requested to call the 377th Medical Group at 846-3200 if they are seen for flu-like symptoms. If you or a family member is showing signs of influenza infection contact your provider or call a nurse helpline at: 377th Medical Group, 846-3200 Veterans Affairs health nurse, 265-1711 ext. 5495 New Mexico medical advice line, 866-850-5893 New Mexico nurse advice line, 877-725-2552 TO OBTAIN UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE SWINE-ORIGIN INFLUENZA VIRUS SITUATION, refer to the H1N1 Flu tab at www.kirtland.af.mil or go to the DOD Pandemic Influenza Watchboard at http://fhp.osd.mil/aiWatchboard/. The Kirtland Installation Commander highly recommends you refer to the U.S. State Department travel alert before any travel to Mexico. You can reference the alert at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_mexico_swine_flu.html PLAN FOR DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS AND CHILDCARE CLOSURE There are currently no plans for school or child care center closures, but if you have children in your household, make plans for their care if officials recommend dismissal of students from schools and closure of childcare programs. Tips from the Center for Disease Control include: · Plan and arrange now for who will care for children if schools and childcare programs dismiss students and children during a pandemic. Plan for an extended period (up to 12 weeks) in case the pandemic is severe. · Do not plan to bring children to the workplace if childcare cannot be arranged. · If you have children in a college or university, have a plan for the student to relocate or return home, if desired, or if the college/university dismisses students, at the onset of a Category 4-5 pandemic. · Plan home-learning activities and exercises. Have materials, such as books, on hand. · Public health officials will likely recommend that children and teenagers do not gather in groups in the community during a pandemic. Plan recreational activities that your children can do at home. · Find out now about the plans at your child's school or childcare facility during a pandemic. Although limiting all outside contact may not be feasible, parents may be able to develop support systems with co-workers, friends, families, or neighbors, if they continue to need childcare. For example, they could prepare a plan in which two to three families work together to supervise and provide care for a small group of infants and young children while their parents are at work (studies suggest that childcare group size of less than six children may be associated with fewer respiratory infections). COMPUTER SCAMMERS It didn't take scammers long to latch on to the latest hot-button topic to try to make a quick buck. Scams built on fears of H1N1 (swine) flu are proliferating quickly across the Internet. The U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team issued an alert this week warning of a number of e-mail scams related to the H1N1 flu. The attacks arrive via an unsolicited e-mail message typically containing a subject line related to the swine flu. "These e-mail messages may contain a link or an attachment. If users click on this link or open the attachment, they may be directed to a phishing Web site or exposed to malicious code," the alert said.