Indian Health Clinics are in a unique position to serve as the medical providers for tribes and reservations. Given the rural geography of many tribes and reservations in California, Indian Health Clinics may be one of the first to detect disease outbreaks that cross over from indigenous animal to human populations. Recently, several cases of swine flu have been detected in the several countries worldwide including the USA and Mexico.
In conjunction with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), local health departments in San Diego and Imperial County, the Department of Health Care Services, and the California Department of Public Health are closely following the cases of swine flu that have been detected among school-age children and adults. All identified cases have recovered. Preliminary reports indicate that this strain of the virus is not the severe form of swine influenza. The cases were confirmed by CDC this week.
If Indian Health Clinics detect any influenza-like-illness (ILI) symptoms in any of your patients or community members, please advise your local public health department immediately.
The California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) messaging is active and will continue to give updates throughout the coming weeks. If you have not had a chance to join CAHAN yet, please continue to check the CDC for updates. More information regarding CAHAN can be found at http://www.cce.csus.edu/conferences/cdph/cahan/
The virtual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on the NAAEP website is no longer currently activated for clinics to report cases of ILI at Indian Health Clinics and tribal communities, but will resume operation if another H1N1 wave of cases appears. Disease and symptom surveillance is of the utmost importance to aiding in the response efforts.
Please click here to access the virtual EOC. For clinic unique passwords, please contact Susan Cheng (858-344-8969 or wscheng@ucdavis.edu).
Please contact Patricia Lavalas-Howe at the Indian Health Program with any additional questions or concerns:
Patricia Lavalas-Howe R.N., BS, MSN
Nurse Consultant III
Department of Health Care Services
Primary and Rural Health Division
Indian Health Program
1501 Capitol Avenue Suite 71.6044
P.O.Box 997413, MS 8502
Sacramento, California, 95899-7413
Telephone: (916) 449-5763
Fax Number: (916) 449-5776
E-mail: Patricia.Lavalas-Howe@dhcs.ca.gov
