By David Robinson
The Times
Ilion, N.Y. — Close to 90 representatives from all levels of the response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009-10 met Monday to discuss the effort and prepare for the next public health scenario.
Coming from the fields of health care, emergency response, education, business, county government and the legal system, the group evaluated their combined response in the area to the outbreak of the H1N1 strain, commonly referred to as swine flu.
Members of the press covering the event also participated in the discussion.
Herkimer County Public Health Director Dr. Gregory O’Keefe led a conversation between the officials on the different aspects of the response to H1N1.
While reviewing measures that worked and those that need improvement, the luncheon at Francesca’s Catering and Banquet Hall in Ilion also allowed for networking and data collection in preparation for this upcoming flu season, according to O’Keefe.
A $5,000 grant paid for the luncheon and to form a report that will be used to distribute information to the public, mainly children, O’Keefe said.
Much of the conversation at the event will contribute to the report, he added
Of the federal Center for Disease Control grant administered by the state Department of Health, a total of $2,000 was spent for the luncheon, which had anticipated 125, and $3,000 will go towards the report, O’Keefe said.
Officials with the DOH could not provide details Monday on the emergency preparedness grant.
The report has a goal of increasing awareness, at a level that is understandable to fourth graders, of the details and impact of the H1N1 strain, according to O’Keefe.
Thousands of people since April 24 last year across the state had confirmed cases of H1N1, with 94 reported deaths outside of New York City, according to the state Department of Health website. Several of the deaths, which span all age groups, had been reported in counties, including Oneida and Fulton, that surround Herkimer. But health care officials have also emphasized that seasonal flu is also responsible for thousands of deaths nationwide each year.
Public health departments from Otsego, Oneida, Hamilton, Montgomery and Fulton counties attended Monday’s event. And many at the luncheon acknowledged the seriousness of the H1N1 issue while trying to put the outcome of last year’s outbreak into perspective.
School districts and colleges in many cases served as the front lines for the H1N1 response, being the first to report confirmed illnesses and holding public information sessions with area residents.
Mark Vivacqua, Herkimer BOCES superintendent, near the first appearance of the strain locally participated in meetings that prepared area school districts’ superintendents and administrators for the response.
Initial steps in responding to the presence of H1N1 in schools involved making sure the public understood the situation.
An early presence of the strain in the West Canada Valley Central School District — which at one point had well over 100 students absent either with a suspected case or due to parental caution — allowed other districts to learn how to respond.
After public information sessions, the public learned about the preventative hygiene measures, such as hand washing, and details on influenza in general.
Herkimer County school and public health officials decided to not close school districts due to H1N1, but officials from Otsego County on Monday said they decided closure was appropriate in certain cases.
The response did result in several benefits that all school districts are now experiencing, however.
An attention to good hygiene practices and cleaning of high-traffic surfaces remains, according to Vivacqua. “We still see kids and adults coughing into their elbows,” he said.
The overall response served as a lesson for their future, according to Vivacqua. “It wasn’t as serious as it could’ve been, but because it wasn’t it gave us some insight into how to respond,” he said.
Public health officials said they will work to change their approach to several aspects of the response as a result of the lessons they learned.
Difficulties in the distribution of vaccines kept health officials from their goal of immunizing all of the willing residents as soon as possible, according to O’Keefe.
Overcrowded clinics and the practice of stockpiling vaccines resulted in delays, O’Keefe said.
“We were not able to put out the vaccines as fast as we might of,” he added.
Changes in registration for and the number of clinics, as well as the distribution among private providers, that resulted from the process will make the next season more efficient.
The practice of getting vaccinations is strengthened overall by the results of businesses and government agencies, such as the court system, having already gone through the process.
Legal issues that arose from the mandatory vaccination orders for health care workers have also been discussed with employees, according to officials with Little Falls Hospital. Employees were made aware of the mandate and have now already been informed as to the details for the next time, several administrators said.
Public health officials also said they want to build a partnership with the media to better get information out to the public.
When asked about disclosing details related to the presence of and response to H1N1, public health officials said they have to consider the possibility of creating a panic in some instances.
O’Keefe said the public health officials can work to make more frequent releases and use the Internet to post data. The public interest will be best served by “teamwork,” he added.
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