# 3079
Dr. Richard Besser, Acting Director of the CDC, held another teleconference today for the media. These updates generally run a little under an hour, and during that time we usually get a short update followed by a prolonged Q&A period.
Much of the information we heard today was a repeat of things we’ve heard over the past few days. That is to be expected, given that it takes time to collect and analyze data.
None of that is to suggest that these updates are without value, for they are very valuable.
We do get incremental increases in our knowledge, updates on how the CDC is viewing an evolving situation, and important reminders about what we should be focusing on.
The audio, and a transcript, will be posted later on the CDC media site. You’ll find a listing of all of the updates at the bottom of this blog entry.
What follows is a brief overview from hastily typed notes on my part.
Dr. Besser stressed that this is a rapidly changing situation, and that the CDC is responding aggressively. The move by the WHO yesterday to raise their Pandemic Phase Level to 4 made very little difference as far as what the CDC was doing.
We’ve a new case count, of 64 confirmed cases in 5 states, although that number admittedly is lagging behind media reports. The CDC will update their numbers every 24 hours, and accepts that their numbers won’t always reflect the latest data.
The CDC is now aware of 5 confirmed cases that are hospitalized. Three in California, and 2 in Texas.
Details on the conditions of these 5 people were not available and the media was directed to contact the individual states.
Dr. Besser was not aware of recent media reports of two suspected deaths in California, but stressed that they expected fatalities would begin to show up here in the states.
Among the confirmed cases, the median age is 16, with a range of 7 to 54 years of age. That is based on a very small sampling of cases, and is expected to change.
The incubation period here in the United States is believed to be 2 to as many as 7 days.
This virus is unpredictable, and the CDC cannot predict how things will play out.
When asked by a reporter what would it take to change their attitude from `concerned’ to `very concerned’, Dr. Besser said the CDC was `very concerned’.
The CDC has released a dozen or more Guidance Documents on their website, and more are coming. All of the guidance is INTERIM, and will be changed as new information is acquired.
The National Strategic Stockpile is deploying antivirals, masks, gowns, gloves and other materials to all states, but those states with confirmed cases are getting first priority.
All 50 states have requested an allocation of antivirals.
We are reminded that, on a personal level, we all have a responsibility to try not to spread this virus. That means we all need to:
- Wash our hand frequently
- Cover our coughs and Sneezes (with arm or elbow, not hands)
- Stay home if sick. No work, no School.
- Family members of those who may be infected should also plan to stay home to avoid spreading the virus – even if they aren’t showing symptoms.
The CDC will work in an advisory capacity, but local public health officials will have the lead in making local decisions. Community mitigation efforts may vary from one location to another.
Test kits are going to states, and soon states will be able to test for swine flu, which should result in quicker test results.
As testing continues he expects to find the virus in `many countries'. His information is that the virus has a fairly high rate of transmission in families, and there is no reason to suspect that it isn’t actively being transmitted human-to-human.
Good news is that this is occurring (in the northern hemisphere) at the end of flu season. It would be much harder to track, treat, and contain during the seasonal flu season.
The transcript and audio will be added to the list below later today. Another conference is expected tomorrow.
Swine Flu Press Briefings
April 27, 2009, 1 p.m. ET
April 26, 2009, 3 PM ET
April 25, 2009, 1 PM ET
April 24, 2009 2:30 PM ET
April 23, 2009
