Pandemic Influenza Research Paper

The Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) is the causative agent of 2009 is the epidemiological outbreaks to be examined. The causative agent was the new H1N1 virus. On April 15, 2009, the H1N1 virus was first identified in a 10 year old in California and a second child, 8 years old, was confirmed two days later living 130 miles away from the first identified source. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) tested both viruses obtained from the children infected and concluded the viruses were “similar and different from viruses seen in humans and animals”. Unknown at this time whether the spread of the H1N1 was by human to human contact or from animal to human contact. On April 23 the CDC was examining samples, two from Texas, both testing positive and

This lead to the suspension of air flights from Mexico to Argentina per the Argentine government and other epidemiological determinants throughout the countries expedited the closing of schools, daycares, churches, extra curricular activities, outside visitors to hospitals, Nursing Homes, Prisons and public transportation or anywhere large groups of population gather (Choffnes, E. R., Mack, A., & Relman, D. A. (2010).Even Though the airline companies dispute the fact the H1N1 virus was spread from country to country during flights, it is often contributed to a person sitting within sneezing or coughing distance of an infected person during the flight. Although the flu climate is undetermined, specialist has noted H1N1 spreads at a slower rate in warm and humid temperatures. The incubation period in the United States was estimated time period of 1.2-1.7 days and a generation time of 2.5-3.0 days ( World Health Organization. (Weekly epidemiological record). Symptoms of the H1N1 virus include: fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, chills, myalgias, rhinorrhea, sore throat, headaches, vomiting, wheezing and/or diarrhea. The highest outbreak occurred in the host, ages ranging from 5-24 years of age and the second highest group ranging from 50-64 years of age. The morbidity rate targeted those predisposed with chronic respiratory diseases and

Positive test results, whether it is through a doctor 's office, clinic or hospital, are electronically transmitted to the Public Health Emergency Surveillance System (PHESS). They monitor daily and report weekly on districts with increasing outbreaks. Although not all individuals see a physician when sick, the Daviess County Health Department monitors absenteeism in schools and assist the superintendent of the school corporation in determining the severity of the outbreak and if school closures are inevitable. Therefore, our chain of command starts with the Daviess County Health Department. They report their findings to the District 10 department of PHESS. The PHESS reports to the CDC and then to WHO. As far as for Daviess County, PHESS determines if the data indicates an emergency for Daviess County. If so, PHESS notifies District 10 and then the Daviess County Health Department. In turn, Daviess County Health Department then coordinates with the Emergency Management Agency to administer emergency procedure according to local, state and federal