H1N1 Readiness Update
Guest Post from RADM Mark Tedesco,
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the H1N1 influenza (flu) virus. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is underway.
More than 70 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with H1N1 flu. The WHO designation of a pandemic alert Phase 6 reflects the fact that there are now ongoing community level outbreaks in multiple parts of the world. WHO's decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity [Source: www.cdc.gov]. WHO currently assesses the severity of the H1N1 virus as moderate.
The federal government is mounting an aggressive response to the H1N1 flu outbreak. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as the lead federal agency for a declared public health emergency, is committing funds for the production of a potential H1N1 vaccine.
Although a H1N1 vaccine is not currently available, I and my staff, along with the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security & Stewardship (CG-5) and Director of Response Policy (CG-53), will continue to monitor the situation and provide guidance to educate and safeguard Coast Guard personnel.
In response to this H1N1 outbreak, the Coast Guard has released numerous ALCOASTs and messages to help prepare and protect our Coast Guard family against this emerging disease. Timely information on H1N1 can be found on the Coast Guard portal. Additionally, I broadcasted a series of informative H1N1 webcasts that can be found on the Coast Guard H1N1 website. For family preparedness, CG-111 has created a Family Readiness page which has a wealth of resources.
All Coast Guard members should ensure they have taken the appropriate Influenza training modules located on E-Learning . These modules focus on influenza awareness and prevention. Additionally, Coast Guard cutters that are experiencing connectivity issues can use the H1N1 Influenza PowerPoint to educate their members on H1N1 Influenza until they obtain better connectivity. Note however this PowerPoint is not an alternative to the current mandatory Influenza GMT located on the Coast Guard Learning Portal.
Semper Paratus,
RADM Mark Tedesco
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of the H1N1 influenza (flu) virus. A Phase 6 designation indicates that a global pandemic is underway.
More than 70 countries are now reporting cases of human infection with H1N1 flu. The WHO designation of a pandemic alert Phase 6 reflects the fact that there are now ongoing community level outbreaks in multiple parts of the world. WHO's decision to raise the pandemic alert level to Phase 6 is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity [Source: www.cdc.gov]. WHO currently assesses the severity of the H1N1 virus as moderate.
The federal government is mounting an aggressive response to the H1N1 flu outbreak. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as the lead federal agency for a declared public health emergency, is committing funds for the production of a potential H1N1 vaccine.
Although a H1N1 vaccine is not currently available, I and my staff, along with the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security & Stewardship (CG-5) and Director of Response Policy (CG-53), will continue to monitor the situation and provide guidance to educate and safeguard Coast Guard personnel.
In response to this H1N1 outbreak, the Coast Guard has released numerous ALCOASTs and messages to help prepare and protect our Coast Guard family against this emerging disease. Timely information on H1N1 can be found on the Coast Guard portal. Additionally, I broadcasted a series of informative H1N1 webcasts that can be found on the Coast Guard H1N1 website. For family preparedness, CG-111 has created a Family Readiness page which has a wealth of resources.
All Coast Guard members should ensure they have taken the appropriate Influenza training modules located on E-Learning . These modules focus on influenza awareness and prevention. Additionally, Coast Guard cutters that are experiencing connectivity issues can use the H1N1 Influenza PowerPoint to educate their members on H1N1 Influenza until they obtain better connectivity. Note however this PowerPoint is not an alternative to the current mandatory Influenza GMT located on the Coast Guard Learning Portal.
Semper Paratus,
RADM Mark Tedesco
Posted at
4:45 PM
3 Comments:
DoD is reporting 8 USCG active duty personnel have been diagnosed with novel H1N1.
Since your people work so closely in many of the duty stations, how will you handle an outbreak that affects an entire station or post? I could foresee, as an example, the Rochester NY station having enough personnel ill that response would be affected. Are you able to "fill in" for some of these more isolated posts, or will there be a short period of time when the mission might be affected?
Thanks!
Chuck Simmins
America's North Shore Journal
http://northshorejournal.org
Chuck,
You raise a great point and are planning accordingly. We anticipate providing our units guidance within the next month on how to deal with a scenario like the one you pose.
The guidance will be based on the degree of degradation of personnel readiness and discuss procedures for backfill either by reallocating personnel from other units or recall Reserves. It will also discuss risk-based decision making to reprioritize missions during periods of degradation.
CG-544 created a section in Homeport to provide guidance to industry on reporting requirements, etc.. It can be accessed via the front page of Homeport at http://homeport.uscg.mil
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