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Aug 10, 2009 10:56 pm US/Central
Preparing For Worst With Possible New Wave Of H1N1
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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Across the nation Monday, human trials began for the H1N1 vaccine. Health officials are testing safety and effectiveness as they get ready for a new wave of "swine flu" as the influenza season begins in the next few months. (File)
AP
As the flu season nears, health officials are gearing up for a new wave of H1N1 flu virus infections. In Minnesota, it's estimated that 1.5 million people will get sick.
Across the nation Monday, human trials began for the H1N1 vaccine. Health officials are testing safety and effectiveness as they get ready for a new wave of "swine flu" as the influenza season begins in the next few months.
So far there are no vaccines in Minnesota, but state legislators heard a scary prognosis. This strain of the flu is impacting a younger age group -- the median age of a patient is 12. If the flu follows the pattern it's already established, it's possible that 26,000 people could need treatment in Intensive Care Units.
"A very stressful situation coming up over the upcoming weeks and months," said Michael Osterholm, Director of Infectious Disease Research at the University of Minnesota.
Osterholm answered questions about the pandemic.
"You're going to need two shots," explained Osterholm. "You may have some limited protection within 10 to 14 days of the first shot. But it is going to take that second shot. And just that system is going to be a nightmare."
To date, Minnesota has had 253 hospitalized cases of H1N1 flu with three deaths. Many of the cases had other underlying health conditions, and 30 percent of patients had asthma.
While Osterholm believes the vaccine will require two shots, he says it will be equally important to get another shot to protect against seasonal flu.
"I have complete and utter confidence in the vaccine supply system that we have today," said Osterholm. "My big concern: it won't be enough, fast enough."
If the worst case scenario does become a reality, others fear there will not be enough hospital beds to take care of the number of sick.
Dr. John Hick is in charge of emergency preparedness at Hennepin County Medical Center. He says experts have been working for months on how HCMC will handle an overflow of patients.
"Construct new ICU areas in areas that currently have cardiac monitors but they don't have a normal ICU environment. We would also put beds into our existing ICUs. We would potentially have to take care of a lot more patients in an alternative care environment," said Hick.
Hick said facilities like the Minneapolis Convention Center will house many. The problem is finding enough beds and enough staff. He said hospitals will have to ramp up their outpatient care.
"Telling people when they need to come to clinic and when they don't. When they need to come to the hospital and when they don't," said Hick.
As for the vaccine, WCCO-TV talked to area hospitals and Fairview expects they will start giving the H1N1 vaccine by the end of September.
Minn. Dept. of Health: H1N1 Novel Influenza (formerly known as swine flu)
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