Author - jen

Novel Viruses H7N9 and Novel Coronavirus

Download PDF There are no cases of either in the U.S. or even North America. Both viruses have high case fatality rates; currently 25% for H7N9 and 55% for nCoV.There are currently too many unknowns surrounding these viruses, so keeping a careful watch for updates is prudent. It is also be a good time for agencies and individuals to assure that their Pandemic Flu Plans are updated and ready for use should the need ever arise.

Read the Latest, Novel Viruses H7N9 and MERS-CoV

Download PDF The GlobalTimes reported today that China has downgraded the response to H7N9. There continues to be no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus has now unofficially entered an eighth country with news coming from the Kuwait News Agency of potential victims in Tunisia. To date there have been no reports of either of these viruses in the US, and the risk of human to human exposure is very low. However, EMS agencies should be aware...

Influenza H7N9 Cases Continue

Download PDF There continue to be more cases of people with diagnosed H7N9 infection in multiple Provinces of China clustered in the same region. One additional case has been reported in Taiwan. As of April 24, the WHO reported 108 confirmed cases and 22 deaths with a case fatality rate of 20%.

Influenza H7N9 Cases in Humans

Download PDF Chinese health & government authorities continue to update WHO (World Health Organization), with other public health authorities and agencies, such as the CDC andECDC, participating in the investigation of the virus, including known and potential animal hosts. Although there are limited human cases infected with this virus (as of April 7, there have been 21 cases with six deaths; three more cases are listed as mild while twelve others are considered severe).

FirstWatch Regional Influenza Update

Download PDF Reports of influenza activity in the United States continued to decline in diagnosed influenza throughout the U.S, although levels are still elevated.Influenza-like illness levels improved again with 6 of 10 regions at or above expected baseline levels (previously 7 of 10 regions were). Deaths related to flu remained above the epidemic threshold.

NOT A FLU VIRUS, BUT IMPORTANT!

Download PDF The CDC has been monitoring the development of a new strain of Coronavirus that has been seen in just a few cases on the Arabian Peninsula and in the United Kingdom.

Reports of Influenza Activity in the U.S. Continue to Decline

Download PDF Reports of influenza activity in the U.S. continued to decline in both diagnosed influenza and influenza-like illness, although levels are still elevated. Even fewer states reported “widespread” flu activity (9) than last week (22). Puerto Rico plus 28 states reported “regional” activity, and Wash., D.C., plus 13 states had “local” activity reported.

Reports of Influenza Activity in the U.S. Continue to Decline

Download PDF According to the CDC, at the end of Week 8 (2/23/13), reports of influenza activity in the United States continued to decline in both diagnosed influenza and influenza-like-illness throughout the U.S. Even fewer states reported "widespread" flu activity (12) than last week (22). There were increases in "regional" and "local" activity reported with 28 states plus Puerto Rico and Wash., D.C. plus 7 states, respectively. Three (3) states reported "sporadic". Influenza-like illness levels improved again with 8 of 10 regions at...

Elevated Influenza Activity

Download PDF According to the CDC, at the end of Week 7 (2/16/13), reports of influenza activity in the United States continued to be elevated although there were continued declines in both diagnosed influenza and influenza-like-illness throughout the U.S. Even fewer states reported "widespread" flu activity (22) than last week (31). There were increases in "regional" and "local" activity reported with 21 states plus Puerto Rico and Wash., D.C. plus 6 states, respectively. One state reported "sporadic". Influenza-like illness levels improved with at...

Reports of Influenza Activity

Download PDF According to the CDC, at the end of Week 6 (2/9/13), reports of influenza activity in the United States continued to be elevated although there were continued declines in both diagnosed influenza and influenza-like-illness throughout the U.S. Even fewer states reported "widespread" flu activity (31) than last week. There were increases in "regional" and "local" activity reported with 14 states plus Puerto Rico and Wash., D.C. and 4 states, respectively. One state and Guam reported "sporadic". Influenza-like illness continued above expected baseline...

Reports of Influenza Activity in the U.S. Continued To Be Elevated

Download PDF According to the CDC, at the end of Week 5 (2/2/13), reports of influenza activity in the United States continued to be elevated although continued declines in diagnosed influenza and influenza-like-illness throughout the U.S. were noted. Less states reported "widespread" activity (38); nine reported "regional" activity. Two states, and Wash., D.C. and Puerto Rico reported only “local” activity and one with "sporadic". Influenza-like illness continued above the expected average in all regions and deaths related to flu remained above the epidemic...

High Anxiety: National Security Events Take Collaboration, Planning

The Democratic and Republican National Conventions are two of the United States’ most important and highest stakes gatherings. As thousands of elected officials, delegates, and media representatives descended on the respective host cities, public health and safety officials from the local, state, and federal levels worked with FirstWatch to prepare for threats—manmade or natural—that could disrupt the events.

Reports of Influenza in the U.S. Continue To Be Above Epidemic Levels

Download PDF According to the CDC, at the end of Week 3 (1/19/13), reports of influenza activity in the United States continued to be above epidemic levels although some areas of the US reported less flu. One less state is reporting "widespread" activity (47) and two are reporting "regional" activity. One state and Wash., D.C. reported only “local” activity. No state reported limited or no activity. There was less flu noted in the Southeast, Northeast, South, and Midwest but more in the...

FirstWatch to Monitor Crowds at Mardi Gras and Super Bowl

With huge crowds expected to descend on New Orleans for Mardi Gras and Super Bowl XLVII this winter, public safety and public health officials are deploying FirstWatch to make sure they have up-to-the minute information on potential safety threats. Read the release.

Reports of Influenza Activity in the U.S. Continue To Be Above Epidemic Levels

Download PDF Reports of influenza activity in the U.S. continued to be above epidemic levels. Although some areas that had been reporting “widespread” activity are now only reporting “regional” activity, those states reporting “widespread” activity increased to 48; “regional” in two; and Wash., D.C. reported “local” activity. According to the CDC, at the end of Week 2 (1/12/13), reports of influenza activity in the United States continued to be above epidemic levels. Although some areas that had been reporting "widespread" activity are...

Reports of Influenza Activity in the U.S. Continue To Be Elevated

Download PDF According to the CDC, at the end of Week 1 (1/5/13) report of influenza activity in the United States continued to be elevated although some markers of flu activity in some areas showed a decline. At this time, it is too early to tell if this is just a fluctuation or if it is a signal of an early peak to the 2012-13 flu season. Influenza levels are considered “widespread” in forty-seven (47) states; “regional” in two; Wash., D.C. with...

Reports of Influenza Activity in the US Was Increasingly Elevated

Download PDF According to the CDC, at the end of Week 52 (12/29/12) report of influenza activity in the United States was increasingly elevated, with influenza levels considered “widespread” in forty-one (41) states; “regional” in seven; Wash., D.C. with “local”; and one state reporting "sporadic". Guam reported no flu activity and one state, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands did not report their activity levels. These numbers represent a huge increase in those numbers with widespread influenza activity, compared to...

Reports of Influenza Activity in the United States Were Elevated

Download PDF Reports of influenza activity in the United States were elevated, with influenza levels considered “widespread” in thirty-one states; “regional” in fourteen; three states and Wash., D.C. with “local”; two states reporting “sporadic”. There were NO states that reported “no activity”.