Colorado Flu Report

The Colorado Rural Health Center would like to thank Nancy Gilbert, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and the Colorado Community Health Network for H1N1 news and updates updates. Current data indicate that hospitalizations peaked during two weeks in mid-October. Surveillance activities indicate that the number of hospitalizations and level of influenza-like activity are currently declining. It is important to note that while the overall influenza-associated hospitalizations are decreasing, there is still a significant influenza burden in the state.

• A cumulative total of 1553 hospitalizations from 48 counties have been reported.
• A total of 34 deaths (7 pediatric and 27 adult deaths) have been reported.
• Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance from Kaiser Permanente for the Denver-Boulder metropolitan area continued to drop for the third week in a row down to 4.4% for the week ending October 31st.
• State laboratory virologic surveillance continues to show that virtually all influenza viruses currently circulating in Colorado are 2009 H1N1 virus.
• Influenza-Associated Deaths by Age Group Colorado 2009-2010 (cumulative through 10/31/09)
• 0-18yrs: 7
• 19-24yrs: 2
• 25-49yrs: 14
• 50-64yrs: 6
• 65+yrs: 5
• TOTAL: 34
(Note: These numbers represent a minimum estimate of deaths because of under-reporting and because only lab confirmed deaths are included. For more information, please click here.)

Colorado Volunteer Mobilizer

Since January 1st of 2009, the Colorado Volunteer Mobilizer (CVM) System has grown 29 % from 1400 approved volunteers to 1802 members. Administrators for the system now exist for all 64 counties in the state of Colorado. This increase in volunteers may be attributed to the addition and training of local administrators and clarification of legal protections volunteers have in Colorado statute.

Recently the Division of Mental Health within the Human Services Department of Colorado added 27 mental health groups through the Colorado Crisis Education and Response Network (COCern). COCern is a collaborative effort of mental health, substance abuse and behavioral health responders. With a community of over 600 trained behavioral health responders our CVM census will expand rapidly.

Since the first of the year state and local administrators have sent 97 alerts to volunteers for drills, quarterly test alerts, the H1N1 outbreak in late April/May of 2009. During the week of October 12th another alert was sent to program administrators for advising volunteers on preparedness for the fall flu season. The CVM program will continue to grow by reaching our projected year-end goal of 2000 volunteers in mid-November 2009. Currently, 652 individuals registered within the CVM are members of one of the state medical reserve corps with the remaining 1150 approved volunteers in general volunteer, licensed and certified professional or the public and environmental health groups.

With the new ESAR-VHP grant for September 30, 2009 – September 29, 2010 a new and professional image will be developed for the CVM and MRC programs. Contact with a professional exhibit design group will assist the program with branding and marketing to our specific target audience with materials that appeal to their professional goals and objectives within the Colorado community.

Already in development the completion of the CVM/MRC Response Volunteer Trailer will assist the programs with continued presence in the community and provide credibility for the state upon arrival for drills, training and/or real events.

H1N1 Update

It appears that the rate of H1N1 infection may be slowing down in Colorado, especially on the Front Range. Novel influenzas tend to come in waves so it is possible that we will see another H1N1 surge before flu season is over.

LAIV Vaccine
There have been some questions recently on whether healthcare workers should take the LAIV and if they do are they still able to see patients. Please visit the CDPHE website for more information.

Certain people should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine including:

• Children under the age of two years of age;
• Pregnant women;
• People 50 years of age and older;
• People with a medical condition that places them at a higher risk for complications from flu, (chronic heart or lung disease including asthma or reactive airways disease; diabetes or kidney failure, illnesses that weaken the immune system);
• Children under the age of five with a history of recurrent wheezing;
• Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy;
• People who have had “Guillain-Barre” syndrome (GBS), within six weeks of getting a flu vaccine;
• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray components.