Annapolis, MD  (July 27, 2009) With the start of the school year only a few weeks away, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) announced Maryland's state and local health officials met today in Annapolis with their state education counterparts to share information and discuss plans to address the challenges and uncertainty facing Maryland school students from the novel H1N1 influenza virus.  

"Our charge from Governor O'Malley is to be prepared for the worst, especially since young people, young adults and many parents appear to have little or no natural resistance to the H1N1 flu," said John M. Colmers, DHMH Secretary. "Students and pre-school children will likely be a priority when an H1N1 flu vaccine becomes available. Our health and education leaders need to be prepared and ready to act should this flu continue to spread and pose a more serious health risk this fall."    

Participants in the summit included local health officers and school superintendents from Maryland's 24 jurisdictions. DHMH epidemiology, disease control, vaccination and emergency preparedness officials shared and discussed details of the forthcoming seasonal influenza immunization campaigns and the surveillance and reporting of H1N1 flu. Communications, legal issues, emergency preparedness planning and the expected release of an H1N1 flu vaccine rounded out the discussions. 

"The more we know about this novel flu as it continues to spread this summer, the more we can prepare for what we may face later," said Frances Phillips, DHMH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services. "This summer of flu, the development of a vaccine and the common sense personal hygiene precautions everyone should know and use, will help us mitigate this flu's impact on students, schools and the population as a whole if we're all prepared and ready at the end of summer."  

According to the DHMH, the state's "Summer of Flu" has seen the H1N1 influenza spread to every region of the state. The 766 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu represent only a fraction of the flu's transmission statewide. While this novel flu has proven to be relatively mild, four Maryland residents have died from flu-related illness; most with serious underlying medical conditions.

Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, and sore throat. Additional symptoms may include chills, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea or shortness of breath. 

Based on CDC figures, it isestimated that 1,000 Marylanders die every year from seasonal flu or its complications. Complications and death are more common among those with serious underlying health conditions. 

According to the CDC, people at a higher risk of serious health consequences from the H1N1 flu virus are the same as those with seasonal flu:  

• Children less than 5 years old

• Persons aged 65 years or older

• Pregnant women

• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

• Persons who are extremely obese

• Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders

• Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)

• Children and adolescents (less than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection

As with seasonal flu, the best protection from contracting or spreading the novel H1N1 flu virus is to practice good personal hygiene:

• Wash your hands often, especially after coughing, sneezing, and wiping or blowing the nose

• If you have flu symptoms, stay home and avoid contact with other people to protect them from catching your illness.

• Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing

• Use paper tissues when wiping or blowing your nose; throw tissues away after use

• Stay away from crowded living and sleeping spaces, if possible

Additional Information

Maryland DHMH H1N1 Influenza Information:

http://www.dhmh.md.gov/swineflu/index.html

The Weekly CDC Novel H1N1 Flu Situation Update:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

CDC Interim Patient Treatment and Risk Guidance:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/identifyingpatients.htm