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Emerging Infections of Interest

Emerging Infections of Interest. Diane Woolard, PhD, MPH Director, Division of Surveillance and Investigation. Topics. Influenza A H7N9 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus (MERS-Cov). Influenza A H7N9. Influenza viruses are always changing

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Emerging Infections of Interest

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  1. Emerging Infections of Interest Diane Woolard, PhD, MPH Director, Division of Surveillance and Investigation

  2. Topics • Influenza A H7N9 • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Coronavirus (MERS-Cov)

  3. Influenza A H7N9 • Influenza viruses are always changing • This new strain was first reported internationally in April 2013 • By end of May, up to 132 cases • including 37 deaths (28%) • All cases have been in China • Most have been exposed to infected poultry or contaminated environments before illness • New illness reports have decreased since April • Control measures (closing live bird markets) • Natural seasonal pattern of avian flu viruses

  4. Criteria for an Influenza Pandemic • Criteria for a pandemic: • Novel strain that is not recognized by the human immune system • Causes increased sickness and death • X Sustained person-to-person transmission • Concern that virus will change to increase person-to-person transmission • So far such spread has been limited, not sustained

  5. Public Health Steps Being Taken • CDC • Working on vaccine development and immunization delivery systems • Sharing test kits with public health laboratories • Testing for antiviral resistance • Maintaining current information • VDH • Monitoring situation • Developing internal guidance • Evaluating and deciding on testing of ill travelers, coordinating with DCLS • Assessing immunization delivery capacity

  6. MERS-CoV • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus • Formerly called novel coronavirus • Not the same coronovirus that caused SARS • Newly identified virus, causes severe acute respiratory illness – first seen in April 2012 • 54 cases, including 30 deaths (55.6%) to date • 8 countries, with 72% in Saudi Arabia • No cases in U.S. • Can spread from person to person during close contact • Families • Healthcare

  7. MERS Cases and Deaths, April 2012 - June 2013 Current as of June 4, 2013

  8. Public Health Steps Being Taken • USDHHS Declaration - circumstances exist to justify emergency use authorization to take MERS-CoV preparedness measures • Allows FDA to authorize use of new lab test kits • VDH – • Monitoring situation • Developing internal guidelines • Coordinating with DCLS for testing of ill travelers, ensuring patients are isolated until ruled out • Note: Healthcare infection control measures are the same as for SARS; no vaccine or antiviral treatment

  9. VDH Epi and Emerging Infections • New pathogens or new strains of known pathogens emerge at regular intervals • Goal - learn about them and prepare to respond • Tasks - work with partners in medical care to assess persons with compatible illness, collect and evaluate information on exposure histories and at-risk contacts, collaborate on laboratory specimen collection and tracking, make recommendations to prevent disease spread, and prepare for communications within VDH and with external partners and the public • (Virginia has a lot of international travelers)

  10. Thank you Questions?

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