SFDPH Health Advisory: Influenza November 7, 2013 Physician Resource, Public Health, SF Dept of Public Health influenza, SFDPH health advisory 0 Based on the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) surveillance data as of 11/1/2013, statewide and nationwide influenza activity continues to be sporadic. It is not yet known which influenza strains will predominate during the 2013-2014 influenza season. Actions Requested of All Clinicians Report to SFDPH Disease Control at (415) 554-2830 of 1) outbreaks of undiagnosed influenza-like illness (ILI) in large group or institutional settings, and 2) individual lab-confirmed cases of seasonal influenza only if they meet specific reporting criteria listed in the advisory. Treat patients with suspected or confirmed influenza who are hospitalized for severe illness or who are at higher risk for influenza-related complications. Use oseltamivir or zanamivir. Treat early and empirically, without relying on lab test results. Encourage and facilitate influenza vaccination for all persons 6 months of age and older and pneumococcal vaccination for those at increased risk of pneumococcal disease. Implement infection control precautions as described on page 3 of the advisory. Influenza Vaccines 2013-14 U.S. trivalent influenza vaccines contain an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) -like virus, an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2) -like virus, and a B/Massachusetts/2/2012-like virus. Quadrivalent vaccines are newly available this year, and also include a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus. Two other new formulations include Flucelvax, grown in canine kidney cells rather than eggs, and FluBlok, a trivalent recombinant vaccine. Intranasal, high-dose, and intradermal formulations continue to be available. A complete listing of 2013-14 flu vaccine products is posted at http://sfcdcp.org/fluvaccine.html. If your facility does not offer flu vaccine, patients can be referred to the AITC Immunization and Travel Clinic (TravelClinicSF.org) at SFDPH. Note for Health Care Workers: By order of the San Francisco Health Officer dated 10/4/13, all hospitals, skilled nursing, and other long term care facilities in the City and County of San Francisco must require their health care workers to receive an annual flu vaccination or, if they decline, to wear a mask in patient care areas during the influenza season. In addition, CA law (Health & Safety Code §1288.7 / Cal OSHA §5199) mandates either flu vaccination or the signing of a declination form for all acute-care hospital workers and most health care personnel including clinic and office- based staff. Click here to view the SFDPH Health Advisory issued on November 7, 2013. For updates, forms and FAQs about influenza, visit http://sfcdcp.org/flu.html. Comments are closed.
