MDH Tracks H1N1 as WHO Makes Pandemic Upgrade

The Minnesota Department of Health continues to track and respond to the H1N1 novel influenza outbreak in the state, after the World Health Organization decided to reclassify the outbreak as a Phase 6 pandemic on Thursday.

MDH officials are tracking what appears to be a rapidly growing number of confirmed cases in the Minnesota. They believe that the new virus has been widespread in the state since mid-May.

To date Minnesota has seen 221 cases of h1n1 with the average age being 13. 46 people have been hospitalized with the average age of nine. There have only been two cases in Minnesota in those 65 or older.

In the last week Hennepin County Medical Center has seen a 30 percent increase of the number of people coming in with flu like symptoms.

Scientists are already trying to develop a vaccine but we probably won't see one until the fall. That vaccine would be a separate vaccine from your normal influenza shot you receive each year.

They emphasized that, while the worldwide H1N1 outbreak has now been designated as a “Phase 6 pandemic,” the new WHO classification does not mean that illnesses caused by the virus are becoming more severe. It simply means that the virus is becoming more widespread throughout the world. Minnesota will continue monitoring H1N1 closely in the state.

MDH standard prevention recommendations for influenza include:

• Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
• Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly – with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub solution.
• Clean your hands after shaking hands or having other close contact with other people – before eating or preparing food, or touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Limit your contact with others who may be ill.
• Stay home from work or school – and generally avoid going out in public – if you are sick, remain home for seven days, or until 24 hours after your symptoms resolve, whichever is longer.
• Make sure to take enough fluids while you’re sick.
• If you are an employer, encourage your employees to stay home if they are sick.
• If you do develop possible flu symptoms and you want to consult your health care provider, call before going in for an office visit. You may not need to go in, and if you do need to be seen, a time should be set up when you will not risk exposing others to influenza in the waiting room.
• People at risk for severe flu or flu complications should contact their health care provider if they have flu symptoms or have been exposed to people with flu symptoms. Those individuals include people with an underlying medical condition, pregnant women, young children (especially under age two) and people 65 or older.