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March 23, 2010

CDHD Shuts Down H1N1 Flu Incident Command

On Monday the Central District Health Department (CDHD) quietly disbanded its Incident Command System for the H1N1 (swine) flu after nearly 11 months of operation. Whenever CDHD is faced with public health emergencies key leadership organizes under the Incident Command System (ICS), which allows a structure of command and control separate from day-to-day operations at the health department. Initially established on April 27, 2009, the response to the H1N1 flu represents the longest period to time CDHD has operated in ICS mode.

Some of the highlights of the past eleven months include:

Vaccine Administered

• 20,777 individuals were vaccinated at 20 Point of Dispensing (POD) clinics
• 30,132 students in 140 primary and secondary schools received vaccine
• 5,409 doses of vaccine were provided through clinics at the three CDHD offices in Boise, Mountain Home and McCall
• 20,463 doses of vaccine were administered through medical offices, including obstetricians
• 13,535 doses of vaccine were administered at pharmacies
• 90,316 total doses administered to date

Disease Burden

Beginning with the start of the flu season September 1, 2009, 277 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu were reported in the four-county Central District Health Department area of jurisdiction. Of those 124 required hospitalization. There were 5 deaths associated with H1N1. Ada County had the largest number of cases at 228, followed by Elmore County at 35, Valley County with 8 and Boise County with 4. Two cases were of unknown origin.

Just over 56% of the cases were in women. Unlike seasonal flu, younger people suffered a disproportionate share of the confirmed cases of H1N1 flu. Of the 277 cases, 121 of them were in people 19 years or younger. In contrast, of the 124 individuals hospitalized, 93 were 20 years of age or older.

Labor

Paid staff and contractors logged 7850 hours in providing services at the PODs, schools and health district office clinics. Medical Reserve Corps and other volunteers logged an additional 2200 hours of time at an estimated savings of $45,000.

The Future

Though Central District Health has ended formal H1N1 operations, the health district will continue offering free vaccine by appointment at all three offices. In Boise call 327-7450, in Mountain Home call 580-6002 and in McCall call 630-8002.

CDHD will maintain an inventory of H1N1 vaccine and other supplies, just in case there is another outbreak of the H1N1 flu.