Weekly Update from the CDC.  March 31, 2010

Key Flu Indicators

Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView. During the week of September 6-12, 2009, a review of the key indictors found that influenza activity continued to increase in the United States compared to the prior weeks. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:

• Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) are increasing nationally. Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness are higher than what is expected during this time of year and have increased for five consecutive weeks now. This is very unusual for this time of year.
• Total influenza hospitalization rates for adults and children are similar to or lower than seasonal influenza hospitalization rates depending on age group, but are higher than expected for this time of year.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was low and within the bounds of what is expected at this time of year.
• Twenty-one states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Any reports of widespread influenza activity in September are very unusual.
• Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the viruses chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exceptions.

H1N1 Fact Sheet, click here.

H1N1 General Update, September 11, 2009

There is a lot of new information available on the H1N1 virus.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is still the best source of information for the H1N1 virus.  New cases of the N1H1 have slowed down considerably as summer is traditionally a time of the year where new reports of the flu are low.   The big question is:  Will the H1N1 virus come back this fall, and if so how severe of an outbreak will it be?  Everyone is hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

The good news is the majority of the cases are mild (similar to the Seasonal Flu) and usually last 7 days or less.  With the symptoms being very close for both viruses, it can be difficult to determine which virus it is without testing.

To keep things in perspective, here are the statistics from the CDC.

US Averages

Seasonal Flu               Source: (www.flu.gov/seasonalflu/index.html)

·    5 – 20% of population get flu every year.

·    200,000/year are hospitalized from flu complications.

·    36,000 die from flu related causes.

H1N1 virus (Total US Cases reported from the CDC through August 14^th 2009)

·    7,511 Hospital cases from complications of the H1N1 virus.

·    477 Deaths from H1N1 related causes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is now predicting that over 1/3 of the worlds population will become infected with the H1N1 Flu in the next two years.  They are recommending that every country step up plans on how they will deal with this virus.

Lots of planning is being done on this topic.  Doctor offices, hospitals, schools, employers, government agencies etc are making plans on how to deal with a potential large outbreak.  Below are some resources that can help you with this issue.

Since Schools are just starting to get back in session, here are some important information/links from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) concerning schools.  Many of these recommendations can also apply to the general work force/office settings.

Are hand sanitizers effective for H1N1 Flu?

Read H1N1 Flu and Hand Sanitizer letter

School Information

The CDC has made available Information, Guidelines, Fact Sheets and Recommendations to help school administrator’s deal with potential severe outbreaks.  They have developed: “Preparing for the Flu:  A Communication toolkit for Schools (Grades K-12).  This can be found at:  http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools

Basic Recommendations:

·    Students should stay home when sick.  Those with flu-like illness should stay tome for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.  Parents should also make contingency plans on how to care for sick children at home, including how to deal with time away from the job.

·    Separate ill students and staff.  Students and staff who appear to have flu-like illness should be sent to a room separate from others until they can be sent home.  CDC recommends that they wear a surgical mask, if possible, and that those who care for ill students and staff wear protective gear, such as a mask.

·    Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.  Emphasize the importance of the basic foundations of influenza prevention:  Stay home when sick, wash hands frequently with soap and water and cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available).

·    Routine Cleaning.  School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use.  Special cleaning with bleach or other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.

·    Early treatment of high-risk students and staff.  People at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with influenza-like illness should speak with their health care provider as soon as possible.  Early treatment with anti-viral medications is very important for people at high risk because it can prevent hospitalizations and deaths.  People at high risk include those who are pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems or have neuromuscular diseases.

H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Resources for Child Care Programs, Schools, Colleges and Universities.

K-12 Schools: 

Updated Guidance for the Fall Flu Season  

·    Guidance for State & Local Health Officials & School Administrators for School Responses to Flu during 2009-2010 School Year

·    Technical Report for State & Local Health Officials & School Administrators on CDC Guidance for School Responses to Flu during 2009-2010 School Year

·    Preparing for Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Schools (K-12)

·    Report K-12 School Dismissals

Institutions of Higher Education: 

Updated Guidance for the Fall Flu Season  

·    Guidance for Responses to Flu for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009-2010 Academic Year

·    Technical Report on CDC Guidance for Responses to Flu for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009-2010 Academic Year

·    Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education

See Also…

·    Guidance on Day and Residential Camps

·    General Information About H1N1

·    Resources for Parents and Caregivers

EPA Swine Flu statement Update, August 2009

Antimicrobial Products Registered for Use Against the H1N1 Flu and Other Influenza A Viruses on Hard Surfaces

Questions On Pesticides?
National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)  1-800-858-7378

Swine Flu Info

Este Web page está disponible en español

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently tracking an H1N1 flu outbreak that has caused infections in humans in the United States, Mexico, Canada and other countries. Information on this Web page will help you identify antimicrobial products that are registered by EPA to disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces that may be contaminated with the 2009-H1N1 flu.

EPA registers pesticide products, including disinfectants. As part of the registration process, EPA evaluates the product efficacy to make sure the public health label claims are accurate. Currently, over 500 disinfectant products are registered for use on hard, non-porous surfaces against influenza A viruses. EPA believes, based on available scientific information, that the currently registered influenza A virus products will be effective against the 2009-H1N1 flu strain and other influenza A virus strains on hard, non-porous surfaces. For safe and effective use of these products, always follow label instructions for these products, paying special attention to the product’s dilution rate (if applicable) and contact time.

Choose a product whose label states that it is effective against "Influenza A virus" and lists your specific site of concern, such as: farm premises, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, schools, offices or homes. These products are widely available and can be purchased at drugstores, supermarkets, and home maintenance/repair stores, among others.

As the CDC stresses, your first line of defense is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based cleaner. These registered disinfectant products are for use on hard, non-porous surfaces, such as door knobs, handles, tables, floors, etc. EPA emphasizes that these products are not to be used on the skin or to be taken orally.

More than 500 antimicrobial products (20 pp, 62 K PDF) are registered by EPA specifically for use against influenza A virus. This is not a complete list since some products may have different distributor or product names and may not be referenced. We will continue to update this list as more information becomes available. Approved products specifically have label information which states they provide effectiveness against “Influenza A viruses”

Up-to-date information about the 2009-H1N1 flu is available on CDC’s Web site

Swine Flu and Disinfectants, Update June 2009

 While we do not have the specific Swine Influenza (H1N1) virus listed on our disinfectant labels, you can rest assured that the Century Q 256, Ful-Trole 64 and Microcide TB are highly effective virucides. 

 The good news is that influenza is an enveloped virus similar to Influenza A.   Enveloped viruses are highly susceptible to quat based disinfectants, including our Century Q 256, Ful-Trole 64 and our Microcide TB Disinfectant cleaners.   

 Our disinfectants are currently being tested for the Swine Influenza H1N1 virus.  However, the time it takes for the testing as well as the time it takes the EPA to review the data and approve labels will be anywhere from 6 – 9 months.  Since the Swine Influenza A (H1N1) virus is a recent mutation, there are no disinfectants that we are aware of that have the specific claims for this specific virus.

 Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills bacteria and viruses.

Product specifications:

Century Q 256          Ful-Trole 64          Microcide TB             Sani-Foam

 IFMA Foundation

The IFMA Foundation has published a Pandemic Preparedness Manual that is an excellent resource of information.  Multi-Clean strongly recommends anyone that is involved with facility maintenance review Chapter 6 ‘Facility Maintenance Measures for Influenza Control and Mitigation’.  This section details, in a checklist format, the facility cleaning and disinfecting measures that should be undertaken through various parts of a facility.   This is exceptional resource material that you can bring to your customers to help them properly prepare.

http://www.ifmafoundation.org/pandemic.pdf

 Hand Hygiene

 The most important thing anyone can do right now to protect themselves is meticulous hand hygiene.  Frequent hand washing helps prevent transmission of disease, including the swine flu.

 Regular hand washing with soap and water is critical.  Multi-Fresh Hand Soaps are readily available in liquid and foam varieties.

 Additional protection can be afforded by offering a hand sanitizer such as Multi-Clean Sani-Foam.  Dispensers can be placed in high traffic locations where water is not readily available.  Sani-Foam promotes improved hand hygiene by offering convenient access without the need to for a water source. 

Resources

The Centers for Disease Control remains the authoritative source for up to date information on the swine flu virus:

For additional Information, please follow the following links: 

Centers for Disease Control:  http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

World Health Organization:  http://www.who.int/en/

Health and Human Services:  http://www.hhs.gov/

Questions or Concerns:

Q & A page

 If you any additional questions or concerning the Swine Flu or related disinfectant questions, please contact Mike Elms, Technical Service Manager at 651-414-3339 or at elms.m@minutemanintl.com or infomc@minutemanintl.com