Boston Declares Health Emergency Amid U.S. Flu Outbreak; Resources for Health Care Providers January 10, 2013 News, Physician Resource, Public Health, SF Dept of Public Health flu outbreak, San Francisco Department of Public Health, SFDPH, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza 0 The country is in the grip of three emerging flu or flulike epidemics: an early start to the annual flu season with an unusually aggressive virus, a surge in a new type of norovirus, and the worst whooping cough outbreak in 60 years. And these are all developing amid the normal winter highs for the many viruses that cause symptoms on the “colds and flu” spectrum. Google’s national flu trend maps, which track flu-related searches, are almost solid red (for “intense activity”) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly FluView maps, which track confirmed cases, are nearly solid brown (for “widespread activity”). With flu cases in this city up tenfold from last year, the mayor of Boston declared a public health emergency on Wednesday as authorities around the United States scrambled to cope with a rising number of patients. Health authorities say a virulent strain this year has caused the number of flu cases to surge earlier than usual. Hospitals around the country have scrambled to find additional space to treat the ill, and some have had to turn people away. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the proportion of people visiting their doctors for flu-like illnesses has doubled in the past four weeks. Encouraging vaccinations is one of the most effective steps in combating what looks to be a serious strain of the flu, said Dr. William Hanage, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. The flu season typically picks up in December, builds to a peak in January or February and fades away by late March or early April. Flu Information for Health Care Providers San Francisco Department of Public Health Health Officer order regarding mandatory influenza vaccination or masking for health care professionals during flu season Flu information from the SFDPH Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, including vaccination guide and health alerts American Public Health Association's report on early start of flu season, December 4, 2012. CDC Report of 2012-2013 Influenza Season Week 52 Ending December 29, 2012. Comments are closed.
