How State and Local Officials Respond to Swine Flu

As the number of swine flu illnesses in the US increases, Mississippi officials are continuing efforts to detect the virus and limit infection. Stephen Koranda has more in this team report.

Even though swine flu in the US appears to be no more deadly than other flu strains, officials at the Mississippi Department of Health are keeping a close eye on anyone with flu-like symptoms, State Epidemiologist Mary Currier told reporters yesterday.

“We are continuing to do surveillance, we’re doing surveillance at hospitals where we’re looking for severe cases to try and find out if they have real swine flu, and our lab is working overtime on those things”

The health department recently tested 7 patient samples, but found no indication of swine flu or any type of influenza. More tests are underway, and they’ll keep collecting samples. Currier says the nature of the virus means swine flu may be in Mississippi’s future.

“If it continues going person to person, it will make it to Mississippi if it doesn’t just fizzle out. There’s really nothing we can do about this. Our efforts right now are towards decreasing the outbreak, giving us time to develop a vaccine, trying to mitigate the effect on the communities.”

Some of the simplest ways to limit the impact is through basic hygiene. Currier says make sure to cover an coughs or sneezes with your sleeve, and wash hand frequently. She also says anyone with Flu Like symptoms should stay home from work or school and call their healthcare provider. The federal government has begun distributing anti-influenza drugs and medical equipment to the states, says Richard Besser, Director of the Centers for Disease Control.

“There are certain states that have cases, and there are many- most of the states- have not yet reported cases, but every state has requested their portion of the strategic national stockpile, and we’re in the process of delivering that.”

Mississippi should receive around 75 thousand treatments of anti-influenza medication. There’s already enough for 300 thousand treatments on hand in Mississippi.

And I’m Phoebe Judge in Gulfport, where statewide and county officials are meeting this week at the All Hazards Preparedness Conference. While the cause and scope of the swine flu outbreak is still being determined, Mike Womack, Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency says he is confident that the state is prepared,

“We’ve had a pandemic plan in place in the state for at least three years. It’s not just a state level plan, there’s a plan for every county to be able to receive the pharmaceuticals and equipment if necessary.”

In a pandemic situation, the Mississippi Department of Health takes over as the lead agency, but relies on county and local health offices heavily to contain the outbreak and distribute any inoculations or vaccines. Eddie Ivey is Training Coordinator for the city of Meridian,

“Because if it is a pandemic, it is not just going to be one jurisdiction affected, it could be the entire state. So you would not have a lot of resources to pull from, therefore you have to be able to deal with it locally.”

Rupert Lacey, Emergency Director for Harrison County, says in a pandemic situation everyone works together in an established team effort,

“If we had to do inoculations, we have inoculation sites. The state has the antidotes that they could bring in to the area. We would take care of the citizens as quickly as possible.”

While there’s been no need to enact the statewide pandemic plan at this point, agencies across the state have spent years working to ensure that a solid plan is in place if the need ever arise.