HHS declares public health emergency over swine flu outbreak

The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday declared a nationwide public health emergency in response to an outbreak of a novel swine flu virus in California, Texas, Kansas, New York and Ohio. Forty cases have been confirmed, with one patient hospitalized to date.

The declaration enables the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to release stockpiled antiviral medications to the affected states, and gives HHS the authority to ease certain federal regulations, such as critical access hospital bed limits and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy rules, to allow hospitals to deliver timely care to infected patients. CDC's Division of the Strategic National Stockpile is releasing one-quarter of its antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment and respiratory protection devices to help states respond to the outbreak. Laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus sensitive to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir.

For more information, visit the CDC Web site. Speaking today at the AHA's annual meeting in Washington, former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., suggested hospital leaders review their pandemic plans and monitor the CDC Web site for the latest developments. Satcher will receive the Health Research & Educational Trust's 2009 TRUST Award at a July 23 reception during the AHA/Health Forum Leadership Summit in San Francisco.

--Article from http://www.hwhn.com