Elmo Good Habits PSA with Sec Sebelius
From: USGOVHHS | 11,828 views
Elmo spreads good habits! Secretary Sebelius and Elmo encouraged kids to practice good habits like hand washing to stay healthy and happy.

Elmo teaches good handwashing

2009 Flu Prevention PSA Contest
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From the CDC
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel made up of medical and public health experts, met July 29, 2009, to make recommendations on who should receive the new H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.
The groups recommended to receive the novel H1N1 influenza vaccine include:

* Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;
* Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;
* Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
* All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
o Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
o Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,
* Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

We do not expect that there will be a shortage of novel H1N1 vaccine, but flu vaccine availability and demand can be unpredictable and there is some possibility that initially, the vaccine will be available in limited quantities.

More info from the CDC

CBS Video of Swine Flu at Camp

Avoiding Swine Flu At Camp
From CBS
July 13, 2009 4:20 PM

Now that the H1N1 virus is spreading, many kids’ summer camps are taking precautions. Dr. Jennifer Ashton reports that campers and counselors are especially vulnerable.

Summer Camp season is here! What should you be concerned about?
From the CDC
Camps for children, young adults and families range from programs conducted for several hours in a day (not overnight) to programs that are residential and involve many weeks in group settings. At this time, CDC recommends the primary means to reduce spread of influenza in camps focus on early identification of ill campers and staff, staying home (or away from others) when ill, good cough and hand hygiene etiquette, and environmental controls that encourage use of these hygiene practices
More info from CDC

A Pandemic Is Declared
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is underway.

More than 70 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with novel H1N1 flu. This number has been increasing over the past few weeks, but many of the cases reportedly had links to travel or were localized outbreaks without community spread. The WHO designation of a pandemic alert Phase 6 reflects the fact that there are now ongoing community level outbreaks in multiple parts of world.

More Info
Alabama 123 cases 0 deaths
Alaska 11 cases 0 deaths
Arkansas 13 cases 0 deaths
Arizona 597 cases 5 deaths
California 1094 cases 6 deaths
Colorado 75 cases 0 deaths
Connecticut 637 cases 1 death
Delaware 187 cases 0 deaths
Florida 417 cases 0 deaths
Georgia 39 cases 0 deaths
Hawaii 198 cases 0 deaths
Idaho 29 cases 0 deaths
Illinois 1983 cases 5 deaths
Indiana 201 cases 0 deaths
Iowa 92 cases 0 deaths
Kansas 97 cases 0 deaths
Kentucky 106 cases 0 deaths
Louisiana 134 cases 0 deaths
Maine 33 cases 0 deaths
Maryland 139 cases 0 deaths
Massachusetts 1078 cases 0 deaths
Michigan 419 cases 1 death
Minnesota 153 cases 0 deaths
Mississippi 59 cases 0 deaths
Missouri 46 cases 1 death
Montana 27 cases 0 deaths
Nebraska 71 cases 0 deaths
Nevada 162 cases 0 deaths
New Hampshire 92 cases 0 deaths
New Jersey 348 cases 0 deaths
New Mexico 155 cases 0 deaths
New York 1160 cases 13 deaths
North Carolina 61 cases 0 deaths
North Dakota 31 cases 0 deaths
Ohio 53 cases 0 deaths
Oklahoma 93 cases 0 deaths
Oregon 189 cases 1 death
Pennsylvania 626 cases 2 deaths
Rhode Island 62 cases 0 deaths
South Carolina 60 cases 0 deaths
South Dakota 14 cases 1 death
Tennessee 110 cases 0 deaths
Texas 2049 cases 3 deaths
Utah 688 cases 2 deaths
Vermont 32 cases 0 deaths
Virginia 90 cases 1 death
Washington 584 cases 2 deaths
Washington, D.C. 33 cases 0 deaths
West Virginia 40 cases 0 deaths
Wisconsin 3008 cases 1 death
Wyoming 50 cases 0 deaths

Territories

Puerto Rico 7 cases 0 deaths
TOTAL (52)
17,855 cases
45 deaths