{"id":10206,"date":"2025-03-01T14:03:07","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan241\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:49:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:49:56","slug":"dhan241","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan241\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan241 ~  Division of Public Health &#8212; Health Alert  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan241.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n      <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->241 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->November 20, 2010 1:52 pm <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n    <\/header>\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n \n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n              <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n  \n\n<h2 class=\"center\">Health\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHANType\"]-->\n\n\n\n   Alert<!--[END]-->\n\n<br>\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Heading\"]-->\n\n\n\nINFORMATION ABOUT INFLUENZA FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS<!--[END]-->\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The following information is provided by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) regarding the 2010-2011 influenza season.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Surveillance\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  DPH\u2019s primary method of surveillance is the statewide sentinel physician network. Sentinel physicians are recruited and appointed\n\n\n  by DPH and report weekly the percentage of influenza-like illness (ILI) seen during office visits. Sentinel physicians also provide\n\n\n  specimens for PCR testing at the DPH Laboratory. ILI is also reported by hospital emergency departments, Federally Qualified Health\n\n\n  Centers, the Dover Air Force Base, selected long-term care facilities, selected colleges and universities, the Department of Corrections,\n\n\n  and selected day care providers.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  An additional component of DPH\u2019s influenza surveillance is based on analysis of specimens submitted to the Division of Public\n\n\n  Health Laboratory. This year the Delaware Public Health Laboratory is offering a Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain\n\n\n  Reaction (rRT-PCR) method for detection of influenza virus nucleic acids. This service is available to health care providers in Delaware\n\n\n  at no charge. For more information, see the Delaware Health Alert issued October 4, 2010 (<a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan240.html\">http:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan240.html<\/a>)\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  DPH activity in Delaware is posted weekly at <a href=\"\/dph\/epi\/influenzawkly.html\">http:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/epi\/influenzawkly.html<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  National surveillance data is posted at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/weekly\/fluactivity.htm\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/weekly\/fluactivity.htm<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Infection Control Guidance\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Preventing transmission of influenza virus and other infectious agents within healthcare settings requires a multi-faceted approach. The\n\n\n  spread of influenza virus can occur among patients, healthcare providers, and visitors. Healthcare providers can also acquire influenza\n\n\n  from household or community contacts and, in turn, transmit the virus to patients. The core strategies for preventing the spread of\n\n\n  influenza are:\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Administer influenza vaccine to patients and to staff.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Implement respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Manage all ill healthcare providers and staff.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Adhere to infection-control precautions for all patient care activities, especially and aerosol-generating procedures.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Implement environmental and engineering infection control measures.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  More Specific Respiratory Hygiene Recommendations\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>When there is increased respiratory infection activity in the community (increased school\/work absenteeism, increased office visits\n\n\n  for respiratory illness), offer masks to anyone who is coughing.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>When space permits, encourage anyone who is coughing to sit at least three feet away from others in waiting areas.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Advise healthcare staff to use droplet precautions (wear a surgical or procedure mask for close contact) in addition to standard\n\n\n  precautions when examining a patient with symptoms of a respiratory infection, especially if fever is present. These precautions should\n\n\n  be maintained for seven days after patient\u2019s illness onset or for 24 hours after the resolution of the fever and respiratory\n\n\n  symptoms (whichever is longer) while a patient is in a healthcare facility.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Healthcare staff should wear respiratory protection equivalent to a fitted N95 respirator during aerosol-generating procedures such\n\n\n  as bronchoscopy, sputum induction, intubation and extubation, autopsies, and open suctioning of airways.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Extensive guidance on infection control is available from CDC at:\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/infectioncontrol\/healthcaresettings.htm\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/infectioncontrol\/healthcaresettings.htm<\/a>\n\n\n  or\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/infectioncontrol\/index.htm\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/infectioncontrol\/index.htm<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  Rapid Diagnostic Tests\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Reliability and interpretation of results\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Reliability depends largely on the prevalence of infection in the population.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Sensitivities are approximately 50-70% when compared with viral culture or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),\n\n\n  and the specificity of rapid diagnostic tests for influenza is approximately 90-95%.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>False-positive results are more likely to occur when disease prevalence in the community is low and are generally found at the\n\n\n  beginning and at the end of the flu season.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>False-negative results are more likely to occur when disease prevalence is high in the community.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Minimize false results\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Use rapid diagnostic tests with high sensitivity and specificity.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Collect specimens as early in the illness as possible (within four to five days of symptom onset).\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Follow manufacturer\u2019s instructions, including proper collection and handling of specimens.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Consider sending specimens for viral culture or PCR to confirm results of rapid tests, especially when community prevalence of\n\n\n  influenza is low and the rapid diagnostic test result is positive, and when the rapid diagnostic test result is negative but disease\n\n\n  prevalence is high.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  For more information on testing, visit <a href=\"http:\/\/cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/diagnosis\/index.htm\">http:\/\/cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/diagnosis\/index.htm<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  Vaccination\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Current guidance can be found at:<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/vaccination\/\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/vaccination\/<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h4>\n\n\n  Antiviral Drug Treatment\n\n\n<\/h4>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Current guidance can be found at: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/antivirals\/index.htm\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/antivirals\/index.htm<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Resources\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>DPH influenza website: <a href=\"\/dph\/dpc\/immunize-flu.html\">http:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dpc\/immunize-flu.html<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>DPH Information Immunization Hotline: 1-800-282-8672\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>CDC website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/index.htm\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/index.htm<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  ************************************\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  You are receiving this email because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network. If you are not a member and would\n\n\n  like to subscribe, please register at <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalertde.org\">https:\/\/healthalertde.org<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p><!--[END]-->\n\n  \n\n        <div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n       <\/div>\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n      <ul>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n          <\/div> \n\n        <\/div><br>  \n\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #241 November 20, 2010 1:52 pm Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10206","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10206"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11382,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10206\/revisions\/11382"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}