Mark's Blog

Is finding it hard to believe he will b 25 tmrw! I know 25 isn’t old, but I kant use young as excuse anymore?!!! Weird

Update on Swine Flu

Sorry, I know these updates are horridly boring, but I thought it might be informative to read about the “official” status in KS, actually.

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This is a Health Alert Network Update on the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus Outbreak for Monday, May 4 2009 from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment:

*Note: KDHE will now refer to what had been called swine influenza as the 2009 H1N1 flu virus.

Current Kansas Situation:
• Kansas remains at 2 confirmed cases. There are 3 additional presumptively confirmed cases. One case is from Sedgwick County, one is from Johnson County, and one is from Wyandotte County. Additionally, there is one probable case from Johnson County awaiting confirmation at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• This weekend KDHE’s laboratory received test kits from CDC that gives state public health laboratories the ability to test for the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. Up to this point, state laboratories had to send specimens to CDC for final confirmation. The CDC requires that laboratories using the new test kits send five specimens that test positive for the virus to the CDC’s laboratory in Atlanta for verification before the KDHE laboratory is certified to announce confirmed cases. Until KDHE receives the certification from the CDC, KDHE will refer to these cases as presumptively confirmed, but will treat them as confirmed cases until they learn otherwise.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) influenza pandemic level remains at 5. A level 5 indicates there is a novel virus with human to human spread in two countries within one continent.
• Antivirals will be shipping out to Kansas communities on Wednesday, May 6, Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8. The shipments will go through Metro Courier, KDHE Staff or a trucking company. Primary contacts listed on the KDHE Antiviral Reply Form will be notified 24 hours prior to their shipment delivery.
• KDHE has released H1N1-related guidance for possible closure of child care programs in a prior HAN Alert. The information will soon be posted in the document library on HAN.

CDC Guidelines: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/
CDC has provided updated guidelines and recommendations for healthcare agencies and EMS related to 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus.

As with any influenza virus, individuals are encouraged to take the following steps to reduce the chance of spread:
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
• Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.

KDHE notice(s) about Swine Flu

Here is parts of a random email I received from KDHE>(Kansas Department of Health and Environment—includes the “catastrophe department”) regarding Swine Flu. Thought it was interesting to hear what the *real* health officials are saying… ********************** This is a Health Alert Network Update on the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus Outbreak for Thursday, April 30, 2009 from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment: *Note: KDHE will now refer to what had been called swine influenza as the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. Current Kansas Situation: - The case count remains at 2 confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in Kansas. - The Kansas Department and Health and Environment (KDHE) continues to work with local public health departments, hospitals and other healthcare providers across the state to closely monitor the current situation related to the 2009 H1N1 flu virus outbreak. Reminder- this situation is extremely fluid and ever-changing. KDHE is working to keep Kansas communities as up-to-date as possible throughout the situation. - Earlier this week, the CDC announced that all states would receive a portion of their allocation of antivirals from the federal Strategic National Stockpile. Kansas has received its portion of its overall federal allocation and communication with health care providers about its distribution is underway. Antiviral allocation information with specific information regarding receipt and storage guidelines was issued by HAN alert Wednesday April 29, 2009. - This antiviral shipment to forward locate supplies is a precautionary measure and has been offered to local health departments and hospitals in every county. - This antivrial shipment is a federal expense and is no charge to the county for receipt of the antivirals. - Reply forms should be faxed into KDHE at 785-296-2625 by Friday May 1, 2009 12:00 pm. - KDHE does not anticipate authorizing the use of antivirals from the Strategic National Stockpile until a Kansas State Declaration of Disaster is issued. KDHE will then release specific guidelines for use of antivirals at that time. - Attached is an antiviral distribution clarification letter. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the availability of a test kit for the 2009 H1N1 flu virus to expand the capabilities of state public health laboratories. This will allow for the quicker detection of the 2009 H1N1 virus in Kansas citizens. KDHE anticipates receiving the new test kit for use in its laboratories next week. - It is important to know that the H1N1 flu virus is not transmitted by food. You cannot get the 2009 H1N1 flu virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. - The World Health Organization yesterday announced that they are changing the Pandemic Threat Level from 4 to 5. KDHE has established a phone number for concerned Kansans to call with questions about the H1N1 flu virus. The toll-free number is 1-877-427-7317. Operators will be available to answer questions from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Persons calling will be directed to press “1” on their touch-tone phone to be directed to an operator who can answer questions. In addition, Spanish speaking operators are available to answer questions related to the H1N1 flu. Kansans with questions about the H1N1 Influenza Virus can also email H1N1fluinfo@kdheks.gov. Information about the H1N1 flu virus is available from KDHE at www.kdheks.gov. KDHE has expanded its Spanish-language website materials to include key facts about H1N1 flu, contact information for public questions, and a link to the CDC Spanish-language website. CDC Guidelines: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/ CDC has provided updated guidelines and recommendations for healthcare agencies and EMS related to 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus. There is information related to the following: advice for airline travel, specimen collection, 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in children, and pregnant women taking Tamiflu. As with any influenza virus, individuals are encouraged to take the following steps to reduce the chance of spread: · Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. · Stay home when you are sick to www.kdheks.gov. KDHE has expanded its Spanish-language website materials to include key facts about H1N1 flu, contact information for public questions, and a link to the CDC Spanish-language website. CDC Guidelines: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/ CDC has provided updated guidelines and recommendations for healthcare agencies and EMS related to 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus. There is information related to the following: advice for airline travel, specimen collection, 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus in children, and pregnant women taking Tamiflu. As with any influenza virus, individuals are encouraged to take the following steps to reduce the chance of spread: · Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. · Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends. · Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues. · Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.

Word of Day

Word of day: omphalomesenteric fistula. Prize 2 1st person w/ rit answer (no lookin it up!)

Update: We have a winner! Congratulations Rachel! Here is the conversation on Facebook (so far). Notice, some of the comments went astray! ;-)

Joel Eugene Hostetler at 12:03pm April 22 via Facebook Mobile
oh thats easy…its a disease that attacks the optical nerve, symptoms are blurred vision and bloodshot eyes…

…or not! =)

Kathy Weaver at 1:42pm April 22
I won’t even try like Joel did. :) My prize of the day was having Esther here. What better could you get?

Laura Conley at 4:01pm April 22
well…..what’s the prize?!

Laura Conley at 4:02pm April 22
p.s. I like your profile pic! :)

Rachel Coblentz at 4:49pm April 22
It’s an unwanted passageway from the screen covering your intestines to another organ that I don’t know what is.

Kathryn Nisly at 8:49pm April 22
wow kathy… that’s a pretty low blow, now isn’t it, mark?! LOL

Mark N at 10:08pm April 22
hmmm, I wz gonna give a candybar, but wz afraid of this (it would be someone who doesn’t live around here)…guess the prize will just have to be a hearty congratulations to Rachel!