Small Town News

Local public health emergency declared

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GRANT COUNTY -- The Board of Grant County Commissioners declared an emergency due to the "Novel H1N1 Pandemic" on Nov. 3.

Aligned with this declaration, the Grant County Health Officer released a Health Officer Order, which directs the Health District, hospitals and local governments within Grant County to implement their pandemic influenza emergency plans.

Both the emergency declaration and Health Officer Order gives puhlic health officials, first responders and hospitals greater flexibility in controlling the spread of the virus.

The directives allow hospitals to implement the measures they have prepared for public health threats and paves a way for certain emergency medical services workers the ability to administer the H1N1 vaccine.

"Over the past weeks, we have seen an increase in - patients hospitalized for influenza-like illness," Dr. Alexander Brzezny, Grant County Health officer, said. "The problem is being complicated by insufficient amount of available vaccine. As we seek to attend to those ever expanding needs, I trust we will remain cohesive, constructive and evidence-based in our decisions when facing these extraordinary circumstances."

From Sept. 19 through Oct. 31, in Washington state there have been 19 deaths linked to influenza and at least 736 people statewide have required hospitalization.

"Unlike seasonal influenza, the new strain of influenza is infecting the younger populations in greater numbers," Peggy Grigg, personal health administrator and personal health director said. "We understand people are frustrated with the lack of H1N1 vaccine available in our community. Due to vaccine supply, the Health District is constantly reevaluating our H1N1 vaccination plans. Our plan is to determine vaccination needs based on which people in our community are most impacted by influenza."

Grant County Emergency Management is also prepared to support public health efforts.

"We have closely monitored the local and national status of H1N1 and believe it is imperative we take the necessary steps to protect our citizens," said Grant County Emergency Management director Sam Lorenz.

"The declaration of emergency gives us the ability to put needed resources in place to respond to what is likely to be a flu season that will impact our entire community."

Grant County Emergency Management recommends local employers prepare plans to sustain business operations should their employees fall ill and are unable to report to work. Links to continuity of business planning resources can be found on the Grant County Emergency Management Web site, www.co.grant. wa.us/EM.



Copyright 2009 The Othello Outlook, Othello, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Othello Outlook Othello, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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