ND Gov. Hoeven Directs State Health Department to Prepare For Possible Swine Flu Cases

April 27, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D.- North Dakota Governor John Hoeven this weekend directed state health officials to take aggressive steps to prepare for possible cases of swine flu in North Dakota. As of Monday morning, 20 cases had been reported in five U.S. states. Cases have also been detected in Canada, Spain, New Zealand and Mexico, where the new viral strain is believed to have originated. The federal government declared a national health emergency Sunday.

Of the U.S. cases, most appear to be mild; only one person was hospitalized, and at this time, all of the known cases in the U.S. have recovered. So far, no cases of the illness have been detected in North Dakota.

Article continues below...

"We have our own antiviral stockpile in North Dakota, as well as access to the Strategic National Stockpile should the need arise," Hoeven said. "In addition, we have activated our public health Emergency Operation Center in Bismarck to respond quickly."

"We are taking the emergence of this new strain of influenza seriously and will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with our federal and local partners," said State Health Officer Terry Dwelle, M.D.

At the Governor's direction, the North Dakota Department of Health has begun taking steps to ensure North Dakota is prepared to respond to any reports of swine flu among our citizens.

* Over the weekend, the department prepared to activate its public health Emergency Operation Center, which will be operational this afternoon.
* Last Friday, the Department of Health sent a Health Alert to physicians, hospitals and local public health units advising them of the cases of swine flu in the U.S. Sunday evening, the department sent another Health Alert with updates and new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
* The health department is working with physicians and laboratories across the state in increasing surveillance for the disease. This includes submitting specimens for testing if they have patients with influenza-like symptoms. They are also asked to contact the Department of Health if they have patients with flu-like symptoms who have been to areas with confirmed cases or patients who have had contact with sick people who had traveled to those areas.
* North Dakota's stockpile of antiviral medications is in a state of readiness, meaning the drugs used to lessen the effects of the disease are available if needed.
* Sunday evening, the department requested North Dakota's portion of antiviral medications in the Strategic National Stockpile, a federal cache of medications and other medical supplies strategically located in the United States.
* The department is reviewing community response plans that have been developed over the past few years. These plans include what steps to take if a case of swine flu is confirmed in the state.
* The department will hold regular briefings with local public health units, hospitals and the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services to keep them apprised of the situation.
* The department continues to work closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public and private health partners.

State Health Officer Dr. Terry Dwelle and Health Department officials will hold a telephone media availability this afternoon at 3 p.m. to discuss swine flu and North Dakota's preparedness.

To connect to the conference call, the media is asked to dial 866.637.9769. If you have trouble connecting, call 701.328.2378. Members of the media who wish to attend in person can meet at 3 p.m. in Room 206 on the second floor of the Judicial Wing at the State Capitol Building, Bismarck, N.D.

For more information about the conference call, contact Loreeta Canton or Stacy Eberl, public information officers, at 701.328.2372.

Guidance on swine flu will be available later today from the North Dakota Department of Health at www.ndhealth.gov. Additional information is available from the Centers for Disease Control at: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.

Source: North Dakota Governor