ATLANTA--As the number of confirmed cases in the United States
passed 4,298, the H1N1 virus has claimed three lives.
Health officials confirmed a Washington state man died last week
from what appeared to be complications from the flu. In previous
weeks, a toddler from Mexico and a 33-year-old Texas woman have
succumbed to the novel virus.
As the outbreak continues to spread, CDC officials said they expect
more hospitalizations and more deaths in this country over the
coming weeks.
But the good news is that the virus does not seem to be as severe
as originally expected, according to Dr. Richard Besser, acting
director of the CDC, although he continued to stress the importance
of proper personal hygiene.
“I say it again and again and again, hand-washing is
critical. Viruses love to be transmitted by hands,” Besser
said. As for preventive measures, he continued, “Hand-washing
or use of gels is number one. Covering your cough with your sleeve
is number two. And then staying home if you're sick or your child
is sick is critically important.”
On a CDC Webcast, Besser suggested people sing “Happy
Birthday” to make sure they’ve washed their hands long
enough to get rid of germs, and noted he keeps hand gel in his
pocket for between-washings. HME providers should take the same
precautions, according to HomeCare Editorial Advisory Board
member Mary Ellen Conway, RN, BSN.
“If you are a DME provider interacting with customers on a
daily basis, take the time to review with your staff your infection
control practices and make sure that they understand the
risks,” said Conway, president of Capital Healthcare Group in
Bethesda, Md., and an expert in accreditation standards including
infection control.
“The number one way to prevent the spread of infection is to
wash your hands in soap and warm water for two minutes and dry with
paper towels anytime you’re near a sink,” she
said. “Alcohol gel is great, but it is meant to be a
substitute for the times you can’t get to a sink with soap
and water.”
Providers should also stock up on PPE (personal protective
equipment), if the outbreak in this country worsens, Conway said.
She added that "a respirator mask is the most effective with viral
illnesses but only used in clearly identified circumstances [such
as TB]."
Conway advised providers to contact their public health department,
particularly if located in an outbreak area, to find out what
precautionary measures are being taken and to keep up with news if
the disease begins to affect more people.
For the most current information on the H1N1 flu, including
guidance for health professionals, check the CDC Web site, or visit www.homecaremag.com for the CDC’s 2009 flu
widget.
For an FAQ on the H1N1 flu from the World Health Organization, which has confirmed 6,497 cases in 33 countries, see www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/faq/en/index.html. To monitor the global situation, see the WHO main Web site.
