Monday, August 10, 2009

Texas: State leaders prepare for next swine flu response

Monday, August 10, 2009

Texas leaders Monday met in Austin to prepare for the next swine flu outbreak.

They are looking over what is known so far about swine flu -- also known as H1N1 influenza -- how it was handled over the spring when it first came out and how it should be handled it in the fall if cases continue.

"Although, indeed, we are facing our first pandemic of the century, the good news is that the severity is not nearly what we thought it could be. By working together and planning together we can effectively confront this challenge," said David Lakey, M.D., commissioner of the Department of State Health Services.
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In April, doctors confirmed the first case of H1N1. The World Health Organization later declared a pandemic. By the end of June, the State of Texas confirmed nearly 5,200 cases.

Some school districts closed as a precaution. The state wants to avoid a repeat of that in the fall.

"On the 24th of August there's going to be 4,651,516 students coming to 8,195 campuses in 1,229 school districts across this state -- we got a lot of work to do,” said Jack Colley, chief of the Division of Emergency Management.

The severity is lower than expected which leaders believe makes it possible to keep campuses open.

There's an added strain this fall with the hurricane season. Leaders are looking at ways of dealing with limited health care resources and shelter management should a simultaneous outbreak strike at the same time a hurricane approaches the Texas coast.

The state is acknowledging that the amount and timing of availability for a vaccine remains unknown. There won't be enough vaccine for everyone. The state is putting a priority on pregnant women, households with infants, healthcare workers, children and teens and those with chronic health conditions. About 159 million priority patients have been identified across the nation.

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