Governor Rell Formally Requests and Accepts Release

of Antiviral Medications by Centers for Disease Control

No Confirmed Cases in Connecticut; U.S Case Numbers Growing

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has formally requested that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) release to Connecticut 134,000 treatment courses of antiviral medications, as well as personal protective equipment and respiratory protection devices, in response to the swine flu outbreak.  The CDC makes the supplies available, but individual states must indicate their formal acceptance of the treatment courses, which the Governor did today.

The Governor’s request was for 25 percent of Connecticut’s allotment from the Strategic National Stockpile.  This amount will augment more than 11,000 antiviral treatment courses that Connecticut already has on hand from a purchase made in 2006, as part of the State’s preparedness efforts.

“I formalized this request to the CDC because preparation is the very best action we can take to protect our citizens against the swine flu,” Governor Rell said. “While there is no vaccine yet for swine flu, antiviral medications can shorten the time and cut down on the severity of the symptoms.  We want to make sure that we have ample supplies of these medications to ensure their availability to anyone who may contract the virus.”

CDCs Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency (terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake).  For more information on the SNS, visit http://www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile.

There are no confirmed cases in Connecticut, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a total of 40 cases of swine flu in the United States.  The confirmed cases have been identified in California (7), Kansas (2), New York (28), Ohio (1), and Texas (2).

The Governor said the DPH has increased surveillance and asked infectious disease physicians and emergency room directors to be alert and submit samples to the DPH Laboratory for testing from patients who are experiencing flu-like symptoms and have traveled recently to affected areas. 

      Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to those of regular, or seasonal flu, and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite and coughing.  Some with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

                Governor Rell and State Health officials say everyone should follow standard precautions to reduce the spread of any respiratory illness.

• Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues
• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Governor Rell has directed the state Department of Public Health (DPH) to closely monitor the swine influenza, or “swine flu,” cases that have been reported in Mexico and various U.S. states. 

People who become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if they are worried about their symptoms.  Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.  People who are experiencing emergency warning signs should immediately contact their health care provider:

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses.  Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs.  People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen.  Most commonly, human cases of swine flu happen in people who are around pigs but it’s possible for swine flu viruses to spread from person to person also.  Swine flu is not transmitted by food and you cannot get swine flu by eating pork products.

For more information on swine flu:

·    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/swineflu

• State of Connecticut:  www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch
• Connecticut Department of Public Health: www.ct.gov/dph

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