HHS Declares Public Health Emergency for Swine Flu - AoA monitoring the situation closely
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a nationwide public health emergency declaration in response to recent human infections with newly discovered swine influenza A (swine flu) virus. The formal declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) is a tool that facilitates HHS’ preparation and mobilization for disasters and emergencies. For example, PHEs were recently declared for flooding in North Dakota, the Inauguration, and several 2008 hurricanes. This declaration, made under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, will help HHS prepare for prevention and mitigation activities by enabling Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorizations of drugs, devices, or medical tests under certain circumstances.
These steps are being taken to be proactive in responding to this new influenza virus by offering national tools in support of community-led preparedness and response efforts. The declaration allows HHS the flexibility, while we learn more about the virus and its impact in the United States, to take additional steps to fully mobilize our prevention, treatment and mitigation capabilities should those actions become necessary.
In addition to the declaration, HHS leaders are working together across agencies to coordinate response to the swine flu outbreak. For example, the FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working together to develop a vaccine precursor that could be used to develop a vaccine for this swine flu virus. The Administration on Aging is participating in daily calls with officials from the highest levels of government and closely monitoring the situation for how it might impact those we serve. We will be keeping our national aging services network, who work along side our older Americans and their families, as up to date as possible as we learn more about this situation.
At this time there are no CDC recommendations for US travelers to change, restrict of alter travel plans. The standard recommendations are in place: cover your cough or sneeze, wash your hands frequently, and visit a doctor if you or your loved ones have fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
To date, there have been confirmed cases of swine Influenza A (swH1N1) in California, Texas, Kansas, New York, and Ohio. No deaths in the U.S. have been reported due to the illness. Additional cases of the virus have been confirmed in Mexico and Canada. Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans; however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have been documented. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork products. The public health emergency declaration is available at
http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/phe_swh1n1.html
For information on swine flu, visit http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
| Last Modified: 7/16/2009 9:07:31 AM |
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