2009 H1N1 Influenza A Outbreak in Kansas

Michael McNulty

Operations Director, Bureau of Public Health Preparedness

Kansas Department of Health & Environment

Influenza Activity Update as of November 28, 2009

• The week ending November 28, 2009 marks the 1st week in over 3 months that overall flu activity has decreased to a expected normal level for the time of year

• Approximately 2/3 of all lab-confirmed H1N1 cases in KS have occurred in those under 25 years old and younger

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

Influenza Activity Update as of November 28, 2009

• 21 deaths due to H1N1 have been confirmed & reported in Kansas

• 19 of the 21 deaths have occurred among persons under the age of 65

• More than 25% of those who have died did not have previously identified risk factors to increase the risk of death from influenza

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance

 

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

Descriptive Epidemiology of Kansas Health & Environmental Laboratory-Confirmed H1N1 Cases

 • Median Age (Years) – 19.0• Age Range (Years) <1 to 90• Percent (%) by Age Group:

<5 years (16)

5 to 24 years (46)

25 to 49 years (22)

50 to 64 years (12)

65+ years (4)

• Percent (%) Male (46)• Percent (%) Died (1)

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

Influenza Activity Update as of November 28, 2009

• For the week ending Nov 28, 86 of 132 hospitals (65%) reported 174 patients were admitted for pneumonia or influenza

• The statewide rate of hospital admissions per 100 bed days decreased by almost 50% to 0.33.

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

School Absenteeism Update as of November 28, 2009

• Statewide school absenteeism percentages continued to decrease

• However, increases in school absenteeism were reported for:– Middle schools in the northwest and north

central regions– Elementary schools in the northeast region

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

School Absenteeism (Surveillance Conducted via Health Departments)

Week Ending November 28, 2009

 

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

N95 Respirators

• CDC Infection Control Guidance for H1N1– Hierarchy of controls– Prioritized respirator use mode

• OSHA statement of October 14, 2009– “Good faith effort” to acquire respirators– Must implement hierarchy of controls

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

State Antiviral Medication Sites

• State-supplied antiviral medications are available at 111 participating retail pharmacies statewide, with more pharmacies recruited to participate

• These pharmacies will provide state-supplied antiviral medications by prescription only for persons who are uninsured and/or unable to pay their share of the medication’s cost

• There will be no cost for people who are uninsured and/or unable to afford the cost of the medication

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

State Antiviral Medication Sites

• If patients are able to pay $5.00, pharmacies may collect that amount as an administration fee for each antiviral prescription filled

• A map of participating commercial pharmacies is available at www.kdheks.gov/H1N1

• KDHE is currently planning distribution to hospitals that have contracted with KDHE and completed KS-CRA agreements

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

Statewide H1N1 Vaccine Availability

• The H1N1 vaccine supply continues to increase• As of November 20, 54.1 million doses of H1N1

vaccine were available nationally (about 23 percent is nasal spray); 490,900 doses were available in Kansas

• As of November 20, 202,809 doses were reported as administered in Kansas

• Details about public clinics are available at www.kdheks.gov/H1N1

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

H1N1 Public Communication Efforts

• Public service announcements (PSAs) on prevention & vaccination are airing on statewide radio and TV stations

• H1N1 movie theater advertisements are airing statewide

• New PSA featuring KSU Football Coach Bill Snyder will be launched in December

• KDHE is increasing the use of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for public communication about H1N1 prevention & vaccination

Our Vision - Healthy Kansans living in safe and sustainable environments

Questions? Questions?