AUGUSTA – At the direction of Governor John E. Baldacci, State agencies today announced a plan to assist schools and communities prepare for the likely resurgence of H1NI influenza (swine flu) this fall.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention/Department of Health and Human Services, the Maine Emergency Management Agency and the Maine Department of Education are sponsoring the Maine H1N1 Preparedness Summit on Thursday, August 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. The goal of the Summit is to help Maine prepared for the fall and to plan for a statewide H1N1 vaccination campaign.
“This is an important opportunity to prepare for the fall when schools across the state will open,” said Governor Baldacci. “Parents, students, educators and health care professionals need to know that through coordination and planning, we are better able to mitigate the impact of H1N1.”
Currently, 302 confirmed and probable cases of H1N1 have been identified in Maine. Since tests are no longer being conducted on all of those who have these symptoms, the actual number of people affected by H1N1 is much higher.
“The U.S. CDC and the World Health Organization are no longer providing case numbers, because actual cases are much higher,’’ said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Director of the MeCDC. “It’s important to understand that H1N1 will most likely increase when students return to school, whether it’s a public institution or a residential school. Respiratory etiquette, like covering coughs and sneezes, frequent hand-washing and staying home when ill can help contain the spread of the virus. We must also prepare for a statewide effort to offer Mainers the anticipated H1N1 vaccine.”
The Summit will be kicked off by Governor Baldacci and will feature an overview of H1N1, along with breakout sessions geared to healthcare providers, emergency management professionals, public health officials, schools and other community leaders.
“We have seen throughout this summer how Maine’s preparation for a public health emergency like H1N1 has been invaluable,’’ said Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Brenda Harvey. “We must remain vigilant and maintain a sense of shared responsibility to reduce the effects of H1N1 this fall and beyond.”
Maine CDC and the Department of Education are coordinating school prevention efforts, which will likely begin with large-scale vaccination against the seasonal flu. The U.S. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Best Practices has recommended that all children ages 6 months to 18 years be vaccinated and that efforts should begin as soon as the vaccine is available.
“The summit provides an opportunity for our community and school partners to begin preparation for H1N1 vaccination when it becomes available,” said Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron. “Our school nurses are the first line of defense in our schools and a critical partner.”
Registration for the Summit has been brisk, with more than 600 attendees registered. It costs $15 to register, but scholarships are available by request. To register by phone, please call 207-622-7566, ext. 232, or contact MCD Meeting Services at conferences@mcd.org.
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