Health Care Unions: We're Not Ready to Protect Workers During Flu Pandemic

A new union survey of more than 100 health care facilities across the country reveals that many are not adequately prepared to protect workers' health and safety during an influenza pandemic.

The report, "Healthcare Workers In Peril: Preparing to Protect Worker Health and Safety During Pandemic Influenza," conducted by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the AFL-CIO and other unions, concludes that workers face a very high risk of becoming infected when caring for patients with pandemic flu unless adequate health and safety measures are in place in advance of a pandemic.

"Our survey has identified serious deficiencies in the preparedness of health care facilities," said AFSCME International President Gerald W. McEntee. "Unless hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities do a better job of addressing all health and safety areas surveyed, workers will become sick and, as a consequence, be unavailable to care for sick patients."

With no existing comprehensive federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard on airborne diseases designed to protect health-care workers, the pandemic flu preparedness survey was conducted to assess the extent of employer efforts in planning adequate safety and health measures.

More than a hundred surveys were collected by six unions in 14 states. The collected surveys indicate that health care facilities have made some progress in preparing for a flu pandemic, but much more needs to be done. Results show:

* Only 4 percent of the respondents reported that their facility was "very ready" to respond to a flu pandemic.
* Less than half the facilities surveyed (43 percent) have provided pandemic flu training to their workers, one of the fundamental elements of protecting workers from occupational hazards.
* One-third of the facilities have yet to develop a written plan for responding to pandemic flu.
* Only 54 percent of the facilities have identified health care workers who will be at some risk of occupational exposure to the pandemic flu virus.

"In order to provide care for patients infected with pandemic flu and protect health care worker from exposure, plans for safety and health issues should be made before the flu arrives," McEntee said.

WHO Raises Pandemic Flu Alert Level to Phase 5

The World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level to 5 this afternoon, the second highest level for the organization. Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned that the disease cannot be contained. At least 91 confirmed cases of the flu have been reported throughout the globe.

WHO says the phase 5 alert means there is sustained human-to-human spread in at least two countries. It also signals that efforts to produce a vaccine will be ramped up.

The disease, which is believed to have originated in Mexico, has now spread across the globe, with confirmed cases having been reported in Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, New Zealand and Israel. The United States has also reported its first death from the disease in a toddler in Texas. A confirmed case was also reported in Costa Rica, and South Korea and France both had probable cases.

The WHO said on Tuesday that while it was not yet certain that the outbreak would turn into a pandemic, countries should prepare for the worst. "Countries should take the opportunity to prepare for a pandemic," said the acting assistant director-general for the WHO, Keiji Fukuda.

"Based on assessment of all available information, and following several expert consultations, I have decided to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5," said Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the WHO, in a statement released in Geneva today. "...All countries should immediately activate their pandemic preparedness plans. Countries should remain on high alert for unusual outbreaks of influenza-like illness and severe pneumonia." After the announcement was made, Wikinews learned that the WHO website had crashed for several minutes, presumably due to high traffic volume.

There is no vaccine for swine flu. In 1976 during an outbreak of the disease, at least 500 people became seriously ill, and of them, 25 had died when inoculated with an attempt at a vaccination. The 500 that became ill, developed a neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) which caused paralysis "and is characterized by various degrees of weakness, sensory abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction." Those who developed the disorder did so because of an immunopathological reaction to the drug. Nearly 40 million U,S. residents, including then President Gerald Ford, were inoculated,

First Swine Flu Death Reported in United States

A 23-month-old child died in Texas from the swine flu virus, according to a report by the Associated Press.

"Even though we've been expecting this, it is very, very sad," said Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "As a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family."

In what has become standard operating procedure in this widening health crisis, Besser went from network to network Wednesday morning to give an update on what the Obama administration is doing. He said authorities essentially are still "trying to learn more about this strain of the flu." His appearances as Germany reported its first cases of swine flu infection, with three victims.

"It's very important that people take their concern and channel it into action," Besser said, adding that "it is crucial that people understand what they need to do if symptoms appear.

"I don't think it (the reported death in Texas) indicates any change in the strain," he said. "We see with any flu virus a spectrum of disease symptoms."

Health officials say that 66 cases of swine flu have been reported in the United States. More than 150 people have died because of the virus in Mexico, where more than 2,000 have been affected. Mexico's health secretary, Jose Cordova, late Tuesday called the death toll there "more or less stable."

Most Doctors Foresee Some Risk Swine Flu Will Become Worldwide Catastrophic Pandemic

A national study among 1,039 physicians released today revealed that a majority of physicians reported that there is some level of risk that the Swine Flu will result in a worldwide catastrophic pandemic.

More than 63 percent of the physicians shared that opinion, the study reported. But only 15 percent of the physicians responded by saying that the government was prepared to deal with a pandemic.

CNN reported at 11:20 p.m. Eastern that 159 people have died of swine flu in Mexico. Hospitalizations for suspected cases of the illness have declined, Mexican Health Minister Jose Cordova said today that there are 1,311 people in the hospital with flu symptoms. The Health Ministry’s fatality estimate increased from 152 yesterday. In the United States, there were 69 suspected cases.

The study, conducted on Monday by HCD Research and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, was designed to obtain physicians' perceptions of the recent news that The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has declared a public health emergency in regard to swine flu.

Above top left is a colorized transmission electron micrograph depicting the A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N1) virus, while in the virus’ first developmental passage through a chicken egg. This is an H1N1 strain of influenza A. (Photo credit: Dr. E. Palmer; R.E. Bates; published on www.sciencedaily.com.)

When asked to rate the federal government's level of preparedness to deal with a swine flu pandemic, 15 percent of physicians reported that the government was prepared to deal with a pandemic. Less than one-quarter of physicians (21 percent) reported that the government was not prepared for a pandemic. A similar percentage of physicians (22 percent) were either concerned or extremely concerned that the virus would have an impact on their families, and 16 percent were not concerned that it would have an impact on their families

Among the findings:

Physicians were asked: On a scale of one to seven, where one indicates that your belief that the current situation has a no risk of resulting in a catastrophic pandemic (a large number of deaths worldwide) and seven indicates an extremely high risk, please rate how risky you believe a swine flu epidemic to be. Indicate your prediction regarding the outcome of potential situation.

They responded:

1 - No Risk 1%
2 - Low Risk 13%
Bottom 2 14%
3 - Somewhat Low Risk 14%
4 - Neither At Risk or Not At Risk 9%
5 - Somewhat At Risk 49%
Top 2 14%
6 - High Risk 12%
7 - Extremely High Risk 2%

They were then asked: Using a similar scale, where one indicates that the government is unprepared for a pandemic and seven indicates that the government is extremely prepared; please rate our government's ability to prepare for a possible pandemic.

They responded:

1 - Not At All Prepared 5%
2 - Not Prepared 16%
Bottom 2 21%
3 - Somewhat Not Prepared 16%
4 - Neutral 12%
5 - Somewhat Prepared 36%
Top 2 15%
6 - Prepared 14%
7 - Completely Prepared 1%

They were also asked: Based on what you may or may not already know about the swine flu cases originating from Mexico, please indicate your level of concern regarding whether this virus will have an impact on you and your family using a scale from one to seven. One indicates you have no concern and seven indicates you are extremely concerned.

They responded:

1 - Not At All Concerned 3%
2 - Not Concerned 12%
Bottom 2 15%
3 - Somewhat Not Concerned 11%
4 - Neutral 12%
5 - Somewhat Concerned 41%
Top 2 21%
6 - Concerned 18%
7 - Extremely Concerned 4%