Archive for the ‘Elderly and Disasters’ Category

Human Influenza 2012-2013 called Epidemic and is not a Pandemic

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

Reported this morning was the 2012-2013 Human Influenza is a pandemic, it is not a pandemic but  an epidemic in many states.  The Centers for Disease Control  (CDC) released this statement late last week explaining why they believe the influenza is so severe this year:

“One factor that may indicate increased severity this season is that the predominant circulating type of influenza virus is influenza A (H3N2) viruses, which account for about 76 percent of the viruses reported. Bresee explains “typically ‘H3N2 seasons’ have been more severe, with higher numbers of hospitalizations and deaths, but we will have to see how the season plays out.”

So far this season, most (91%) of the influenza viruses that have been analyzed at CDC are like the viruses included in the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine. The match between the vaccine virus and circulating viruses is one factor that impacts how well the vaccine works. But Bresee cautions that other factors are involved.

“While influenza vaccination offers the best protection we have against influenza, it’s still possible that some people may become ill despite being vaccinated,” says Bresee. “Health care providers and the public should remember that influenza antiviral medications are a second line of defense against influenza.” (For more information about why people may become sick with influenza after vaccination, see 2012-2013 season Questions and Answers.)”

The CDC recommends three steps to prevent the flu and they are, vaccination, take everyday preventive actions, and if prescribed by your doctor take flu antivirals.  For more detailed information see CDC link on these three steps.

 

Kim Cassel

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Posted in Children and Disasters, disasters, Elderly and Disasters, Family and Individual Preparedness, Human Disease Outbreak, Pandemic Flu | No Comments »

West Nile Virus Incidence Rate and Case Numbers as of mid-December 2012

Friday, December 28th, 2012

CDC continues to report cases of West Nile Virus, even this late in the season.  Forty-eight states have reported infection in birds, people and/or mosquitoes.  As of December 11, 2012, a  total of 5,387 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 243 deaths, have been reported to CDC.  About half the cases were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and half were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease.

The 5,387 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the second week in December since 2003. Eighty percent of the cases have been reported from 13 states (Texas, California, Louisiana, Illinois, Mississippi, South Dakota, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Ohio, and New York) and a third of all cases have been reported from Texas.

In addition to case numbers it is also important to look at Incidence Rate or cases per 100,000 people.  Note a number of the states listed above which contributed to 80% of the cases had a low incidence rate such as New York and Ohio and other states such as South and North Dakota, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, and Illinois have high case numbers and high incidence rates.

WNV Neuroinvasive Disease as of 11 Dec 2012
2012 Population NID cases Incidence (cases per 100,000 population)
South Dakota 824,082 62 7.5
North Dakota 683,932 39 5.7
Mississippi 2,978,512 103 3.5
Louisiana 4,574,836 155 3.4
Texas 25,674,681 785 3.1
Oklahoma 3,791,508 101 2.7
Nebraska 1,842,641 40 2.2
Arkansas 2,937,979 44 1.5
Illinois 12,869,257 184 1.4
Michigan 9,876,187 138 1.4
Arizona 6,482,505 82 1.3
Colorado 5,116,796 62 1.2
New Mexico 2,082,224 24 1.2
District of Columbia 617,996 6 1.0
United States 311,591,917 2734 0.9
California 37,691,912 278 0.7
Indiana 6,516,922 45 0.7
Alabama 4,802,740 33 0.7
Wisconsin 5,711,767 39 0.7
Kansas 2,871,238 19 0.7
Ohio 11,544,951 76 0.7
Minnesota 5,344,861 34 0.6
Wyoming 568,158 3 0.5
Georgia 9,815,210 42 0.4
South Carolina 4,679,230 20 0.4
Maryland 5,828,289 24 0.4
Iowa 3,062,309 11 0.4
Massachusetts 6,587,536 23 0.3
Connecticut 3,580,709 12 0.3
Idaho 1,584,985 5 0.3
New York 19,465,197 60 0.3
Tennessee 6,403,353 18 0.3
West Virginia 1,855,364 5 0.3
Missouri 6,010,688 16 0.3
New Jersey 8,821,155 22 0.2
Virginia 8,096,604 20 0.2
Florida 19,057,542 46 0.2
Delaware 907,135 2 0.2
Pennsylvania 12,742,886 28 0.2
Rhode Island 1,051,302 2 0.2
Nevada 2,723,322 5 0.2
Vermont 626,431 1 0.2
Utah 2,817,222 3 0.1
Montana 998,199 1 0.1
Kentucky 4,369,356 4 0.1
New Hampshire 1,318,194 1 0.1
Maine 1,328,188 1 0.1
North Carolina 9,656,401 6 0.1
Washington 6,830,038 4 0.1
Alaska 722,718 0 0.0
Hawaii 1,374,810 0 0.0
Oregon 3,871,859 0 0.0

Table provided by SD DOH, Dr. Lon Kightlinger, State Epidemiologist

Kim Cassel

 

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Posted in Elderly and Disasters, Family and Individual Preparedness, Uncategorized, West Nile Virus | No Comments »

Centers for Disease Control — Drought and Human Health

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

The Centers for Disease Control have a link with information on health issues related to the drought.  Information included on this web page is water, air quality, food and nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, recreational risks, infectious disease, chronic disease, and diseases transmitted by animals and insects.

Kim Cassel

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Posted in Children and Disasters, Community Prepraredness, Community Recovery, Community Resilience, disasters, Drought, Elderly and Disasters, Family and Individual Preparedness, Pets and Companion Animals | No Comments »

Family Preparedness Friday

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Don’t Forget the Doggie!

This week’s post comes to you from my remote location in beautiful New Orleans, Louisiana. I’ve had meetings here all week; which means I have been away from my family all week. I sadly had to leave my husband and children at home. Not let me clarify, the children in our household are fur-babies.

Holden, the chocolate lab, and Arie, the pug

Please meet, Holden the slightly chubby overly-lovable, chocolate lab and Arie the often completely wild and insane rambunctious, pug. I know that I am the same as many other animal owners when I say that my pets are part of my family.

The likelihood that you and your animals will survive emergencies or disasters such as a fire, earthquake, flood, tornado or terrorist attack depends largely on emergency planning.

If possible, if an emergencies or disasters force you to evacuate your home, take your pets with you. However, if you are going to a public shelter, understand that animals may not be allowed inside. For example, Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets due to health and safety regulations. Service animals that assist people with disabilities are the only exception. Make plans for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets.

Be prepared for an emergency or disaster. Assemble animal emergency supply kits and develop a pet-care plan that will work whether you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location. Keep in mind that what is best for you is typically best for your animals. Create kits for each pet for at least three days, and store the supplies in a pet carrier that’s ready to go.

Kits should include:

  • Pet identification securely attached and current photos of your pets in case they get lost
  • Medications, first-aid kit and veterinary records (stored in a waterproof container)
  • Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers to transport pets safely and ensure that your animals cannot escape
  • Three days’ food supply (one ounce/per pound each day), potable water, bowls, can opener if canned food
  • Pet towel or blanket; pet beds and toys if easily transportable
  • Plastic bags for waste
  • Cat litter/pan
  • Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets

In the event of evacuation, do not leave pets behind. However, if it’s impossible to take them, make sure plenty of dry food and water are available.

For more information look at the EDEN Family Preparedness Course or FEMA’s Information for Pet Owners page.

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Posted in 4-H disaster education, Children and Disasters, Community Prepraredness, Disaster Education Planning, Elderly and Disasters, Families and Communities, Family and Individual Preparedness, Pets and Companion Animals, Youth Programs and Initiatives | No Comments »

Family Preparedness Friday

Friday, February 10th, 2012

A Recipe for Disaster?

If you were to lose power in your home for three days, what would you eat? Food from the refrigerator? No longer good. Food from the freezer? Not an option either. Microwave something? No power, remember.

Maybe you should start thinking now about what you could cook from the ingredients you have in your disaster readiness kit or your kitchen pantry right this moment.

Take a look around, what do you have? You can heat that can of ravioli up of a fire, same for the baked beans and cans of soup. But don’t stop there, think harder. What can you create from these items?

Well, I’ll be honest; my go-to comfort food is chicken pot pie, it’s perfect for sad days, cold days, and really ANY day. And yes, I know there are no two people that make it exactly alike, but I have to say my mother’s recipe is pretty fantastic. However, if my power is knocked out for several days on end I’m not going to be able to use those chicken breasts in the fridge or make pie crust from scratch like the recipe says. I will  be able to make my disaster ready chicken pot pie though. Check out how using canned ingredients can create relatively the same meal.

Disaster Ready Chicken Pot Pie

1 can – Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can – Mixed Vegetables
1 can – Chicken Meat
1 Pie Crust Mix from a box
Water
Salt
Pepper

Mix the pie crust according to instructions. Heat over an open flame. Break canned chicken up with a fork. Mix with vegetables (don’t drain) and soup. Season to taste. Fill pie crust with mixture and heat until warm.

Now that sounds more like a family meal. Be creative, but plan ahead. When making your disaster readiness kit plan meals ahead that will feed your whole family. Canned ingredients may seem simple, but they can make some of the best meals.

What did you find when you looked in your fridge? Share with us some of your disaster ready meal ideas.

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Posted in 4-H disaster education, Children and Disasters, Community Prepraredness, Disaster Education Planning, Elderly and Disasters, Families and Communities, Family and Individual Preparedness, Youth Programs and Initiatives | 2 Comments »

Family Preparedness Friday

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

We are rolling out something new this week, Family Preparedness Fridays. Each Friday we will highlight a way you can get your family prepared for a disaster.

What better way to help get the family prepared for the next disaster than to get the kids involved. Have the kids help complete the word search below, then use the word list as a starting point for collecting items for your family’s disaster preparedness kit. Most of these items can be found around the house, so grab a box or tote and let the family start getting prepared!

GET A KIT!

To complete this puzzle online click here. For a printable PDF click here.

More resources on Family Preparedness are available on the EDEN website by clicking here.

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Posted in 4-H disaster education, Children and Disasters, Community Prepraredness, Disaster Education Planning, Elderly and Disasters, Families and Communities, Family and Individual Preparedness, Uncategorized, Youth Programs and Initiatives | No Comments »