Should Tamiflu™ be stockpiled locally?

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Sandro Cinti, MD ◽  
Gerald Blackburn, DO

The outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in Asia raises serious concerns about an influenza pandemic of the kind seen in 1918. In addition, the recent federal response to Hurricane Katrina highlights the need for advanced local preparation for biological disasters. It is clear that there will not be enough vaccine early in an influenza pandemic. Without vaccine, the role of antivirals, especially oseltamivir (Tamiflu™), in treatment and prophylaxis becomes of paramount importance. It is unlikely that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be able to stockpile enough oseltamivir to protect every first responder in the United States. Thus, it is important that local governments and hospitals consider stockpiling oseltamivir for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of local first responders.

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 852-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandro Cinti ◽  
Carol Chenoweth ◽  
Arnold S. Monto

AbstractThe outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in Asia has reignited concerns about an influenza pandemic. It is clear that influenza vaccine will be in short supply (or nonexistent) early in an influenza pandemic. Without vaccine, the role of antiviral agents, especially oseltamivir, in treatment and prophylaxis is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, the government cannot possibly stockpile enough oseltamivir to provide long-term prophylaxis or treatment for every healthcare worker in the United States. We think that hospitals should consider stockpiling oseltamivir, and we provide a strategy for doing so at a reasonable cost.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy Smith ◽  
Jessica Terman

Scholars and practitioners have come to understand the important role of local governments in the causes and effects of climate change. The literature has examined both the substantive and symbolic determinants of urban sustainability policies in addition to the implementation issues associated with those policies. At the heart of these policies is the idea that local governments have the desire and ability to engage in socially and environmentally responsible practices to mitigate climate change. While important, these studies are missing a key component in the investigation of local government involvement in sustainability policies: government purchasing power. This study examines the effect of administrative professionalism and interest group presence on the determinants of green procurement in the understudied context of counties in the United States.


2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (41) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Towers ◽  
Z Feng

We use data on confirmed cases of pandemic influenza A(H1N1), disseminated by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(US CDC), to fit the parameters of a seasonally forced Susceptible, Infective, Recovered (SIR) model. We use the resulting model to predict the course of the H1N1 influenza pandemic in autumn 2009, and we assess the efficacy of the planned CDC H1N1 vaccination campaign. The model predicts that there will be a significant wave in autumn, with 63% of the population being infected, and that this wave will peak so early that the planned CDC vaccination campaign will likely not have a large effect on the total number of people ultimately infected by the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus.


2020 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-36
Author(s):  
Diane M. T. North

The 1918–1920 influenza pandemic remains the deadliest influenza pandemic in recorded history. It started in the midst of World War I and killed an estimated 50–100 million people worldwide, many from complications of pneumonia. Approximately 500 million, or one-third of the world's population, became infected. In the United States, an estimated 850,000 died. The exceptionally contagious, unknown strain of influenza virus spread rapidly and attacked all ages, but it especially targeted young adults (ages twenty to forty-four). This essay examines the evolution of four waves of the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic, emphasizes the role of the U.S. Navy and sea travel as the initial transmitters of the virus in the United States, and focuses on California communities and military installations as a case study in the response to the crisis. Although the world war, limited medical science, and the unknown nature of the virus made it extremely difficult to fight the disease, the responses of national, state, and community leaders to the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic can provide useful lessons in 2020, as the onslaught of COVID-19 forces people worldwide to confront a terrible illness and death.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Mallow ◽  
Kathy W. Belk ◽  
Michael Topmiller ◽  
Edmond A. Hooker

Background/Objective: The primary objective was to quantify the role of the number of Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) risk factors on in-hospital mortality. The secondary objective was to assess the associated hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) bed utilization, and ICU LOS with the number of CDC risk factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study consisting of all hospitalizations with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis discharged between March 15, 2020 and April 30, 2020 was conducted. Data was obtained from 276 acute care hospitals across the United States. Cohorts were identified based upon the number of the CDC COVID-19 risk factors. Multivariable regression modeling was performed to assess outcomes and utilization. The odds ratio (OR) and incidence rate ratio (IRR) were reported. Results: Compared with patients with no CDC risk factors, patients with risk factors were significantly more likely to die during the hospitalization: One risk factor (OR 2.08, 95% CI, 1.60–2.70; P < 0.001), two risk factors (OR 2.63, 95% CI, 2.00–3.47; P < 0.001), and three or more risk factors (OR 3.49, 95% CI, 2.53–4.80; P < 0.001). The presence of CDC risk factors was associated with increased ICU utilization, longer ICU LOS, and longer hospital LOS compared to those with no risk factors. Patients with hypertension (OR 0.77, 95% CI, 0.70–0.86; P < 0.001) and those administered statins were less likely to die (OR 0.54, 95% CI, 0.49–0.60; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Quantifying the role of CDC risk factors upon admission may improve risk stratification and identification of patients who may require closer monitoring and more intensive treatment.


Subject Measles cases and vaccinations in the United States. Significance The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in late May there had been 971 reported cases of measles in 2019, surpassing the previous US record of 963 in 1994. Measles is highly contagious but had been eliminated in the United States in 2000. Now, however, it is back. The current outbreak is particularly affecting parts of New York City and within that, the Orthodox Jewish community. Impacts Social media firms could face government and public pressure further to help with public health campaigns. There will likely be court cases against local governments’ legal moves to compel people to be vaccinated. If vaccination levels do not increase markedly, inroads could be created into the problem by increasing US border health checks.


2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 620-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry DeCoster

The flu has an interesting history with respect to health care rationing in the United States. Consider that just about two years ago, the American public faced a shortage of influenza vaccine. Dire predictions were made about how many people might perish, and rationing protocols were created. However, many of the rationing protocols were ignored. Luckily, that flu season did not result in the horrible fatalities that were predicted. For these reasons, problems of health care rationing around issues of the flu were postponed, rather than resolved.Over the last year, the public has focused its anxious attention on the possible avian influenza pandemic. Last week I noticed that at least once each day I heard mention in some discussion or another of the threat of this disease becoming easily transmissible from human to human.


ISRN Forestry ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Menka Bihari ◽  
Elisabeth M. Hamin ◽  
Robert L. Ryan

As wildfires affect more residential areas across the United States, the need for collaboration between land managers, federal agencies, neighbours, and local governments has become more pressing especially in the context of the wildland-urban interface. Previous research has not focused much on land-use planners’ role in wildfire mitigation. This paper provides information on how land-use planners can assist communities in learning to live with wildfire risk through planning, preparedness, and mitigation efforts in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Based on interviews with land-use planners, forest planners, and local emergency management officials, we identified a range of tools that could be used for improving wildfire preparedness and mitigation initiatives in the WUI, but also found that planners felt that they lacked the regulatory authority to use these tenaciously. The paper also identifies a range of possible actions that would contribute towards safer building practices in the interface communities.


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