Download PDF Since first reported in August, Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has spread from the Midwest to the majority of the United States. The CDC now reports that over 32 states have reported cases of the respiratory illness, however, it is more than likely that the virus has spread to all parts of the US. Prevention is key to keeping the virus from spreading. To learn more about prevention tips and recommendations for EMS, download the PDF.
Download PDF The CDC recently released a report stating that if there is no action on tackling the Ebola virus, their models predict 1.4 million persons will become infected by January 2015. U.S. officials are very concerned about the possibility of cases being introduced on US soil with the CDC offering guidance to healthcare facilities and EMS. To learn more about the 13 CDC based recommendations for EMS, download the PDF.
Download PDF The CDC has released an early report on a cluster of children with severe respiratory complaints in the Midwest. The Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO and the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital in Illinois also contacted the CDC to report an increase in patients presenting to the hospital with respiratory distress. To learn more about what this means for EMS, download the PDF.
The CDC has posted interim guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for management of patients with known or suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States. Please note: This information supersedes any information we have previously posted on the Ebola Virus. Click here to view their recommendations
Download PDF The CDC has posted recommendations for Hospitalized patients suspected or known to have the Ebola virus. View recommendations.
Download PDF The largest outbreak of the Ebola virus is occurring on the African continent with fear that the deadly disease will spread to other countries. So far, there have been over 672 persons that have contracted Ebola according to the World Health Organization, with the number increasing every day.
Download PDF Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a second case of MERS-CoV. The second case was identified in Orange County Florida in a healthcare worker who was visiting the U. S. from Saudi Arabia. Dr. Alex Garza, former FirstWatch Medical Director and Health Intelligence page contributor, was featured this morning on the St. Louis TV news station KTVI to discuss the current threat of Mers-CoV.
Two British passengers who flew into Heathrow next to a man who has been diagnosed with Mers-Cov are being tracked down by Public Health England. Read full story
Download PDF The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting the first case of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome caused by the Corona Virus, otherwise known as MERS-CoV. The CDC states that a man has tested positive in Indiana after a recent trip to Saudia Arabia. The man arrived in the United States approximately one week ago after a layover in London. He eventually landed in Chicago and then took a bus to Indiana. He was apparently...
Download PDF FirstWatch has recently developed our first MERS-CoV near-real-time triggers. Earlier this week, Dr. Neal Richmond, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director for Louisville Metro EMS in Kentucky asked us to help develop MERS triggers as part of their preparation for the Kentucky Derby (May 2 – 4, 2014). The Kentucky Derby is an international event with attendees from all over the world, including from countries with MERS cases.
Download PDF Flu Activity Continues to Increase: Twenty-five states are now reporting widespread levels of activity, up from 10 the previous week and further increases are expected. Despite the increase in ILI, the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza decreased this week, and remains below the epidemic threshold. Our Canadian RIN (Regional Influenza Network) members seem to be having a slightly higher rate of alerts than most US RIN members, but still not higher than a...
UPDATE: Health departments in Iowa and Nebraska today announced that the source of Cyclospora infections in the two states is prepackaged salad mix, but federal health officials said they are working to determine if the findings apply to cases in other states and are looking into other possibilities.
Mers and Cylospora Update: As of July 26, 2013, CDC has been notified of 353 cases of Cyclospora infection from the following 15 health departments: Iowa , Texas , Nebraska , Florida, Wisconsin , Illinois, New York City, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Ohio
Download PDF The CDC released a Public Health Advisory yesterday regarding an increase in overdose deaths related to a synthetic opiate Acetyl Fentanyl over a three month period in Rhode Island. Acetyl Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that is not sold in the United States and is a very powerful narcotic, up to five times more potent than heroin. The CDC states that other states may have seen overdoses attributed to “Fentanyl laced heroin” and urge vigilance in looking for...
Download PDF The Obama administration has declared MERS-CoV a significant potential for a public health emergency that may lead to affects on national security or the health and security of US citizens living abroad.
Download PDF The Beijing Center for disease control announced yesterday they had found an additional case of H7N9 in a six-year-old boy. Saudi Arabia announced that they had identified five more cases of MERS-CoV yesterday while Agence France Presse (AFP) reported the death of a 65-year-old man infected with the MERS-CoV. Recommendations for EMS do not change.
Alabama public health officials are standing down, as they have determined that the cluster of respiratory illness was normally occurring and there is no longer a need for enhanced surveillance. For more information, please see their Press Release
Download PDF Alabama public health officials are investigating a cluster of severe respiratory infections with an unknown cause around the Dothan area. Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) said in a press release yesterday that seven people were hospitalized with similar symptoms of cough, fever and shortness of breath. There has been no evidence that the cases traveled to either China or the Middle East where H7N9 influenza virus or the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are...
Download PDF There are no cases of either in the U.S. or even North America. Both viruses have high case fatality rates; currently 25% for H7N9 and 55% for nCoV.There are currently too many unknowns surrounding these viruses, so keeping a careful watch for updates is prudent. It is also be a good time for agencies and individuals to assure that their Pandemic Flu Plans are updated and ready for use should the need ever arise.
Download PDF The GlobalTimes reported today that China has downgraded the response to H7N9. There continues to be no evidence of human-to-human transmission. Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus has now unofficially entered an eighth country with news coming from the Kuwait News Agency of potential victims in Tunisia. To date there have been no reports of either of these viruses in the US, and the risk of human to human exposure is very low. However, EMS...
