RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Preparing for swine flu virus
Tracy Stieglitz, infection control manager for Washington Hospital, said no cases have been reported at the hospital. However, the staff and administrators are preparing for an influx of influenza-like symptoms as the season progresses.
The symptoms of H1N1 are similar to those of seasonal flu, but diagnosis requires a specialized laboratory test done through the state.
Vaccines are available for seasonal flu. A vaccine to help fight swine flu is in production and is expected to be available for hospitals by mid-October. How the public will receive the inoculations is still being planned.
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
The same advice is being given by Beverly Mueller, nursing director, and Dr. Jonathan Landis, medical director, both at Canonsburg General Hospital's emergency department.
Seeking treatment from the family physician is also being advised at Monongahela Valley Hospital, said Donna Ramusivich, senior vice president.
The health-care industry is attempting to plan for what is essentially the unknown.
On June 11, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, as the virus that once circulated among pigs is now spreading across the world from person to person.
What also is troubling to physicians and researchers is the new virus is a combination called a "quadruple ressortant." Instead of the usual virus found in North American pigs, the new virus has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in swine in Europe and Asia, along with a bird gene and human genes, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Worldwide, several hundred people have died while many others have experienced only a mild case with a quick recovery.
According to Dave Zazac, spokesman for the Allegheny County Health Department, the agency is not keeping a case count for influenza this year and is not actively tracking cases. The department is checking local hospitals and other health-providing agencies as to where cases are being reported.
The state Department of Health began taking requests Sept. 1 from hospitals for a vaccine to help to prevent H1N1.
Mueller said Canonsburg General Hospital requested 600 doses, but the exact number it will be allotted is unknown.
Mueller said the vaccine would first be administered to hospital staff and ambulance personnel.
Vaccine doses also were requested by Mon Valley and Washington hospitals. All are waiting to see exactly how many doses will be received before determining distribution.
When the vaccine becomes available to the public, the inoculations will likely be given in two doses, three to four weeks apart. Landis said, as with the conventional flu vaccine, it takes time for the body to develop immunity.
"We're preparing because we don't know who will come through the doors and we don't know what to expect," Mueller said.
As with Canonsburg and Washington, Mon Valley has a task force in place. The group of specialists is preparing guidelines, including giving anyone who appears in the emergency department a mask and separating that patient from others.
"Right now, nobody knows (about the severity of the upcoming flu season), and I wish we had a crystal ball to know how many people will be affected," Stieglitz said.
