August 7, 2009
GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO COUNTIES TO COMBAT NOVEL H1N1 INFLUENZA
Calls Local Health Officials to Albany to Discuss Statewide Plans to Prepare For Re-Emergence of Virus this Fall
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., has declared the novel H1N1 influenza virus a threat to public health in New York State, triggering additional support to local health departments under Article 6 of the Public Health Law. The law permits increased State aid reimbursement of approved local health department expenditures for the costs of public health emergency measures. Reimbursement by the State would be increased from 36 percent to 50 percent of expenditures related to novel H1N1 influenza virus that exceed approved local health department budgets.
“New York must be prepared for the re-emergence of novel H1N1 influenza virus this fall,” said Governor Paterson. “This declaration will ensure that local health departments have the resources they need to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy should another outbreak occur. The State is leading the nation in its response to this virus, and we will continue to do what is needed to minimize the impact of novel H1N1. Our county health departments are on the front lines of dealing with the virus with the full support of the State.”
The announcement came as Commissioner Daines convened a “Commissioner’s Call” meeting with all local health commissioners and public health directors in the State to discuss the State’s planning and response efforts for novel H1N1, which is likely to re-emerge this fall. The meeting will include information on comprehensive, statewide planning for a novel H1N1 vaccination campaign this fall and provide a forum for input and feedback from local health departments and preparedness partners.
“This declaration gives our county health departments the necessary resources to deal with another possible outbreak of novel H1N1 during the coming influenza season,” said Commissioner Daines. “It is also important that we have a coordinated federal, State, and local response. By bringing our local health officials together today to discuss the critical issues related to novel H1N1 and provide information about federal and state planning, we are helping our local partners to mount an effective response should there be a significant outbreak this fall.”
A Commissioner’s Call requires all local health officers to attend a statewide meeting. Previous Commissioner’s Calls took place in 2001 to discuss bioterrorism and disaster planning and in 2006 to discuss planning for pandemic influenza.
All 58 counties outside of New York City are represented at the meeting today as well as the New York State Association of County Health Officials and the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC). They will hear from State Health Department public health and health emergency preparedness experts who will discuss critical issues related to novel H1N1, including vaccine prioritization and logistics, community mitigation, surveillance and laboratory issues, medical surge and communications and public information.
“As always, local health departments will work closely with our partners in state government and in our communities to do whatever we can to protect all New York State residents from this public health threat,” said Cynthia Morrow, M.D., NYSACHO President and Commissioner of Health for Onondaga County. “We appreciate the leadership that Commissioner Daines and our colleagues at the State Health Department are demonstrating by bringing us together to plan our response.”
On July 28, the Department in conjunction with the State Emergency Management Office and the Disaster Preparedness Commission sponsored a state agency briefing to provide a forum for state agency partners’ questions and concerns and to provide information on planning, vaccine strategies, risk communications to the public, and partner roles in the event of an outbreak.
The State Health Department is continuing to monitor and report on the virus as it does for seasonal influenza. As of Aug. 1, there were a total of 1,489 confirmed cases of novel H1N1 influenza in counties outside New York City. These laboratory-confirmed cases represent only a fraction of the likely number of cases in the State because many individuals with mild symptoms do not seek care from a doctor or hospital but recover at home. Nine deaths in the State have been associated with novel H1N1.
To date there has not been an increase in the severity of novel H1N1-related illness. The symptoms of novel H1N1 disease for most cases continue to be mild to moderate and resemble those of seasonal flu. Most individuals affected by novel H1N1 continue to recover.
More information about novel H1N1 and precautionary measures is available at www.ny.gov/h1n1/index.html.
