HHS Declares Public Health Emergency for Swine Flu; Employers Need to Prepare
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Friday, May 1, 2009 |
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The
Department of Health and Human Services issued a nationwide public
health emergency declaration in response to recent human infections
with a newly discovered swine influenza A (swine flu) virus.
The
formal declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) is a tool that
facilitates HHS' preparation and mobilization for disasters and
emergencies. For example, PHEs were recently declared for flooding in
North Dakota, the Inauguration, and several 2008 hurricanes.
The
declaration, made under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act,
will help HHS prepare for prevention and mitigation activities by
enabling Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use
authorizations of drugs, devices, or medical tests under certain
circumstances.
Specifically, the PHE will enable the FDA to
review and issue emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the use of
certain laboratory tests to help detect the newly discovered strain of
influenza and for the emergency use of certain antivirals.
"HHS
is taking these steps today to be proactive in responding to this new
influenza virus by offering national tools in support of community-led
preparedness and response efforts," Acting HHS Secretary Charles
Johnson said. "The declaration allows us the flexibility, while we
learn more about the virus and its impact in the United States, to take
additional steps to fully mobilize our prevention, treatment and
mitigation capabilities should those actions become necessary."
In
addition to the declaration, HHS leaders are working together across
operating divisions to coordinate response to the swine flu outbreak.
For example, the FDA, the National Institutes of Health, and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working together to
develop a vaccine precursor that could be used to develop a vaccine for
this swine flu virus.
To review the latest information on confirmed swine flu cases, go to http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
Swine
flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that
regularly causes outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses
do not normally infect humans; however, human infections with swine flu
do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have
been documented.
The public health emergency declaration is available at http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/phe_swh1n1.html.
For
information on how employers can respond to the swine flu, go to
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/workplaceplanning/index.html
If you would like to train your employees on how to prepare for a pandemic flu outbreak, go to http://www.hrclassroom.com.
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