R 191702Z JUN 09 

SUBJ: H1N1 INFLUENZA UPDATE
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON 282202Z APR 09/ALCOAST 251/09
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON 051950Z MAY 09/ALCOAST 269/09
1. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT DUE
TO THE GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD OF THE H1N1 VIRUS, THE PANDEMIC ALERT
LEVEL HAS BEEN RAISED TO PHASE 6. A WHO PHASE 6 MEANS THAT THE
VIRUS IS SPREADING ACROSS THE GLOBE. THIS DESIGNATION IS MEANT TO
ALERT THOSE NATIONS NOT YET AFFECTED BY THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
WHO PHASES DO NOT PREDICT THE SEVERITY OF THE VIRUS. THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MOUNTING AN AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE TO THIS H1N1
OUTBREAK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)
SERVING AS THE LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY.
2. IN ALIGNMENT WITH HHS, THE COAST GUARD CONTINUES TO MONITOR THIS
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY VERY CLOSELY. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SHOULD
CONTINUE TO CHECK THE H1N1 FLU OUBREAK INFORMATION SITE ON THE
COAST GUARD PORTAL (HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL) (LOCATED IN PUBLIC
PLACES), THE COAST GUARD INTERNET H1N1 SITE
(HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/H1N1),
AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) WEBSITE
(HTTP://WWW.CDC.GOV/SWINEFLU) FOR ADDITIONAL H1N1 UPDATES.
3. OPERATIONAL POSTURE – OPERATIONAL FOCUS REMAINS ON MISSION
ASSURANCE AND INDIVIDUAL/UNIT VIGILANCE: THIS INCLUDES EXECUTING
FLU MITIGATION PROTOCOLS (I.E. HAND WASHING, SOCIAL DISTANCING,
ETC.). PERSONNEL THAT HAVE CLOSE CONTACT WITH A CONFIRMED H1N1 CASE
SHOULD NOTIFY THEIR COMMAND AND MEDICAL STAFF. DELIBERATE PLANNING
IS ONGOING IN THE EVENT THIS SHOULD BECOME A GREATER HEALTH CRISIS.
PERSONNEL SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH ALCOAST 263/09, OPERATING
PROTOCOLS IN AN H1N1 ENVIRONMENT AS AMENDED BY ALCOAST 284/09.
4. FORCE HEALTH PROTECTION –
 A. HEALTH SERVICES - COAST GUARD CLINICS SHOULD EXERCISE THEIR
CLINIC PANDEMIC INFLUENZA CONTINGENCY PLANS. ADDITIONALLY, ALL
COAST GUARD HEALTH SERVICES PERSONNEL SHOULD CHECK THE CDC H1N1
WEBSITE AT LEAST TWICE PER DAY TO OBTAIN UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.
ALL CONFIRMED H1N1 CASES MUST BE REPORTED IN THE NAVY DISEASE
REPORTING SURVEILLANCE INTERNET (NDRSI) DATABASE.
 B. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) – COAST GUARD MEMBERS ARE
AUTHORIZED TO USE PPE WHEN EFFECTIVE ENGINEERING CONTROLS (E.G.
VENTILATION) ARE NOT FEASIBLE AND THERE IS A RESPIRATORY HAZARD.
MEMBERS USING N-95 RESPIRATORS ARE REQUIRED TO BE FIT-TESTED. REFER
TO REF A OR THE NEW H1N1 INFLUENZA PPE LINE (202-475-4161) FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE HOTLINE PROVIDES UNITS TIMELY
INFORMATION REGARDING PPE PUSH PACKS AND N-95 RESPIRATOR FIT
TESTING AND TRAINING.
 C. FAMILY READINESS – ALL COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SHOULD ENSURE THEY
HAVE FAMILY READINESS PLANS. THE COAST GUARD FAMILY READINESS PAGE
HAS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HOW TO DEVELOP THESE PLANS AT:
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG1/CG111/READY.ASP. CHILD DEVELOPMENT
CENTER DIRECTORS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
BE VIGILANT REGARDING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF POTENTIAL INFLUENZA
LIKE ILLNESS IN CHILDREN AND SHOULD FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE IN REF B.
5. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK LIFE
AND RADM J. T. RIKER, DIRECTOR OF RESPONSE POLICY SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED