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The Ongoing Threat of Influenza
MDHHS Division of Immunizations - Jennifer Crooker BSPH, CHES & Timothy DeRosia MPH
Influenza activity hit historic lows during the 2020-2021 season coinciding with the outbreak of COVID-19.1 Public health professionals indicate this can be attributed to increased use of infection control methods including handwashing, masking, physical distancing, and limitations on gatherings. However, influenza remains a major global public health threat. Typical flu seasons have resulted in an estimated 1 billion annual global infections according to the World Health Organization.2 In the United States, annual influenza-associated deaths range between 12,000 and 52,000 with a spike of approximately 50,000 deaths occurring in the 2017-2018 season.1 The 2019-2020 season saw a record 199 influenza-associated pediatric deaths nationwide.3
CDC was unable to issue a flu burden estimate for the 2020-2021 season due to that season’s unusually low activity. However, in the current 2021-2022 flu season, influenza rates across the country are once again on the rise likely associated with relaxed infection control practices and decreasing vaccination rates. According to CDC’s FluView Report for the week ending January 22, “there have been at least 2 million flu illnesses, 20,000 hospitalizations, and 1,200 deaths from flu” so far this season in the United States.4 As hospitals continue to face challenges from COVID-19, RSV, and other respiratory illnesses, it is a public health priority to decrease the burden of vaccine-preventable respiratory illnesses in our communities
In Michigan, influenza activity has also increased this season compared with the previous flu season. Michigan’s sentinel laboratory network is reporting elevated influenza A activity in two regions throughout the state as of February 4, 2020.5 Additionally, the counties participating in the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Project (IHSP) have reported 68 influenza-associated hospitalizations so far for the 2021-2022 flu season, and 11 congregate setting outbreaks in schools and long-term care facilities.5 Fortunately, zero influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported in Michigan as of February 8, 2022.5
CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for all individuals aged 6 months and older.6 Aiming to protect our communities from flu, MDHHS has set a goal for the 2021-2022 flu season to vaccinate at least 4 million individuals for influenza. Just over 3.1 million doses of influenza vaccine have been administered to Michiganders so far for the 2021-2022 flu season.7 Early data suggests that nationally 2021-2022 influenza vaccination rates are down for many groups including those at higher risk such as children and pregnant persons.4
It is not too late to promote influenza vaccination. CDC recommends influenza vaccination throughout the winter months while influenza viruses are still circulating within the community. Additionally, CDC has stated that individuals can get an influenza vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine in the same visit, as long as they are due for both vaccines.6 Don’t miss opportunities to vaccinate! Developing a culture of immunization and taking all available opportunities to immunize against vaccine-preventable diseases will be key to successful response plans for pandemic influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses to protect our health care systems, businesses, and schools.
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Service Animals In Emergencies
Alice Frame, MDHHS Disability Health Program Coordinator
Emergency responders will likely encounter service animals in their work, so it’s important to understand what service animals are, the jobs they perform and what their rights are in emergency situations.
What is a service animal?
First and foremost, a service animal is not the same as a pet. A service animal is trained to do work or perform a service to benefit an individual with a disability. These animals are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to help individuals with disabilities or medical conditions.
Where are service animals allowed?
Individuals should be allowed to bring their service animals to any area of public or private businesses and facilities where people are allowed if the animal is housebroken and under the user’s control. This can be done with a harness or leash, or through voice and/or signal commands. If a service animal is not under control, he is no longer protected by the ADA guidelines.
What does this mean for emergencies?
When at all possible, a service animal should be allowed to remain with the handler. Emergencies are stressful for everyone but can be even more so for an individual with a disability when separated from a service animal. Response staff cannot ask to see medical documentation or service animal certification, but can ask these two questions:
- Is the dog a service animal needed for a disability?
- What work is the dog trained to perform?
Ambulances: If space permits, a service animal should be allowed to accompany an individual with a disability in an ambulance. However, if there is limited space in the ambulance or the animal is behaving in a way that prevents responders from working on the patient, the staff should make arrangements to transport him separately to the same location as his owner. This can be done through local police, a secondary emergency responder or other entity. Ideally, animal and user would arrive as close to the same time as possible. On arrival, the service animal should be returned back to their owner.
Hospitals and treatment centers: As a general rule, service animals must be allowed in any areas where public and patients are allowed. These areas include patient rooms, clinics, exam rooms, cafeterias and lounge spaces. However, it is appropriate to exclude service animals from areas that must remain sterile, such as operating rooms and burn units. Many hospitals and treatment centers have established service animal protocols.
Sheltering: Service animals must be allowed in any shelter or location being used for emergency sheltering. An individual with a disability cannot be separated from everyone else or moved to a separate shelter just because they have a service animal.
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Exercise Best Practice Guides
FEMA’s National Exercise Division (NED) recognized that exercise practitioners have struggled to adapt exercises to the unique challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has produced. NED collected and compiled lessons learned and best practices from across the whole community of exercise professionals related to two topics: “Virtual Exercise Best Practices” and “Safe Exercise Practices for In-person Events”.
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Upcoming Tribal Health Conferences
Tribal Public Health Conference
The Southern Plains Tribal Health Board and 7th Generation are hosting the Tribal Public Health Conference virtually on April 19–21. The conference theme is “Community: Rising to a Changing Public Health Climate.” The conference will feature more than 40 presenters, awards and gratitude ceremonies, and tracks including the pandemic, policy and advocacy, maternal and child health, and more.
National Tribal Public Health Summit
The National Indian Health Board is hosting the National Tribal Public Health Summit virtually on May 9–12. The conference will feature workshops and roundtable discussions on featured topics including climate change and environmental health, health promotion and disease prevention, mental and behavioral health, and more. Learn more and register.
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The Guardian of Public Health is a monthly newsletter from the Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness (BETP) within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Guardian aims to provide readers with relevant content on topics that affect the public health of Michigan's citizens and communities.
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This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement number 1NU90TP922062-01-00, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bureau of EMS, Trauma & Preparedness | 1001 Terminal Rd, Lansing, MI 48906 | 517-335-8150
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