coffindodger

This is from the UK .
This isnt from or has any local input as yet.
But we all know how fast this lot can be to react to any thing major.

Human Swine Influenza

There are now confirmed cases of swine flu in the <?UK: all have been identified and treated at an early stage and the virus does not appear to be causing significant morbidity in the <?UK at present. Confirmed deaths worldwide 29 have been in Mexico and 1 in the USA. However it is likely that the virus will mutate over time and continuing vigilance is required as national preparations proceed. Emergency Departments around the UK are reporting presentations by people concerned about human swine influenza but very few, if any, of these patients actually have the disease.
To assist Emergency Departments in planning, the College of Emergency Medicine has identified and prepared the following resources:

National and International Resources
1. The key source of advice and information for healthcare professionals in the UK remains the Health Protection Agency Website:<?
http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPA.../1240732817665
This site has algorithms for the management of returning travellers and close contacts of possible or confirmed cases. These are updated regularly, so please check for the most recent version and ensure that staff is briefed on how to respond if a possible case presents to the ED.
2. Fellows and Members in the Republic of Ireland are advised to use their local guidelines, to be found at:
http://www.ndsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Emergenc...wineInfluenza/
3. The World Health Organisation provides further useful advice at:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
4. Broader information from the UK government in relation to human swine influenza is also available at:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831

Advice on Preparation for UK Emergency Departments
1. Specific advice from the College of Emergency Medicine on the preparation of Emergency Departments for pandemic flu can be downloaded here.
2. An article entitled “Ten things your emergency department should consider to prepare for pandemic influenza” has now been made available on the Emergency Medicine Journal website, and provides useful information regarding ED preparation:
http://emj.bmj.com/misc/em61499flupandemic.pdf
Individual departments should consider what needs to be done locally, and may wish to nominate a lead who will coordinate their ongoing response whilst remaining up to date with official guidance. This section of the CEM website will also be updated regularly.
If the virus continues to spread or significant developments occur the College will provide further practical advice on the triage and management of infected patients, in consultation with the Department of Health.

coffindodger

Swine Influenza:
What You Must Do Now
The swine flu buzz is causing information overload. There are three things pertinent to first responders that must be implemented immediately to protect your members, provide excellent patient care, and be a good public health partner. Here's the list:
EMS Providers:
• Request additional information from dispatch when sent to respiratory, sick person and fever related calls if limited initial dispatch information is provided.

• Perform initial interview of all patients from at least 2 meters (6.5 feet) away to determine if personal protective equipment precautions are necessary.

• Place a mask on all patients with suspected influenza symptoms before approach. Use a surgical mask or non-rebreather mask (when oxygen is required).

• Avoid droplet producing procedures whenever possible including nebulizers, bag-valve-mask, suctioning or intubation. If bag-valve-masks are needed, use BVMs with HEPA filters whenever possible.

• Recommended PPE for taking care of ill/potentially infected patients includes: gloves and N95 or better respirators. PPE should be donned and doffed according to published guidelines to prevent cross contamination, including faceshield/eye and gown protection when splash or airborne contamination is possible.

• Alert receiving hospital personnel of the possibility of an infectious patient as soon as possible and hold suspected infectious patients in the ambulance until their destination in the hospital is known, rather than immediately moving them into the emergency department.

• Perform a thorough cleaning of the stretcher and all equipment that has come in contact with or been within 2 meters (6.5 feet) with an approved disinfectant, upon completion of the call following CDC interim guidelines for cleaning EMS transport vehicles.
Service Leaders:
• Immediately notify all members and staff of the emerging problem.

• Review your plans using the CDC EMS Pandemic Preparedness checklist.

• Set up an email list and web site to provide continual updates and info for your members.

• Monitor news reports and government resources. Communicate with your local public health officials. Use the CDC minute-to-minute swine flu update site.
Communications Center/Dispatch Leaders:
• Implement severe respiratory infection (SRI) screening for all callers with chest pain, difficulty breathing, headache, or general illness (sick person). If using the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), activate the SRI drop down on ProQA or add the following questions to paper card numbers 6, 10, 18, and 26 for further interrogation: (a) has the patient recently been in Mexico (or other outbreak location) or exposed to anyone who has (paying particular attention to those who stayed for 7 days or longer)? (b) are they febrile or have a fever and, if so, is it higher than 101 F (38 C) and (c) do they have a cough or other respiratory illness symptoms?

• Relay responses to these questions to EMS units before they arrive on scene.
Remember that this is a continually evolving situation. The most severe flu cases so far have been mostly adults from ages 25 to 45, but patients of all ages have been infected, so the same precautions should be used for all patients. We need to stay on heightened alert until this threat has been controlled. As with all infectious diseases, always remember that hand washing is the number one way to decrease transmission!

Source: EMS1.com

What is Swine Influenza?
Swine influenza, or “swine flu”, is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease of pigs, caused by one of several swine influenza A viruses. Morbidity tends to be high and mortality low (1-4%). The virus is spread among pigs by aerosols, direct and indirect contact, and asymptomatic carrier pigs. Outbreaks in pigs occur year round, with an increased incidence in the fall and winter in temperate zones. Many countries routinely vaccinate swine populations against swine influenza.
Swine influenza viruses are most commonly of the H1N1 subtype, but other subtypes are also circulating in pigs (e.g., H1N2, H3N1, H3N2). Pigs can also be infected with avian influenza viruses and human seasonal influenza viruses as well as swine influenza viruses. The H3N2 swine virus was thought to have been originally introduced into pigs by humans. Sometimes pigs can be infected with more than one virus type at a time, which can allow the genes from these viruses to mix. This can result in an influenza virus containing genes from a number of sources, called a "reassortant" virus. Although swine influenza viruses are normally species specific and only infect pigs, they do sometimes cross the species barrier to cause disease in humans.
Source: World Health Organization,

Roadking

see new post in Sand Pit.