{"id":10328,"date":"2025-03-01T14:07:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan354\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:52:54","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:52:54","slug":"dhan354","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan354\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan354 ~  Division of Public Health &#8212; Health Alert  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan354.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n      <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->354 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->November 5, 2015 3:19 pm <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n    <\/header>\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n \n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n              <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n  \n\n<h2 class=\"center\">Health\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHANType\"]-->\n\n\n\n   Update<!--[END]-->\n\n<br>\n\n<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Heading\"]-->\n\n\n\nGUIDANCE AND SCREENING TOOL FOR SEASONAL INFLUENZA AND EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES-HEALTHCARE\n\n\n  FACILITIES (UPDATED 11-4-2015)<!--[END]-->\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Background\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The combination of global travel and travel-related emerging infectious diseases continues to pose a threat to public health here in the\n\n\n  US and in Delaware. The 2014-15 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa has been the largest EVD outbreak in history with\n\n\n  28,607 people infected and 11,314 dead as of 11\/3\/2015. The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) continues to monitor returned\n\n\n  travelers from Guinea and Sierra Leone. In addition, the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continues.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  As in prior years, seasonal influenza remains a direct public health threat. (There were 28 influenza related fatalities in Delaware last\n\n\n  influenza season). The 2015-16 influenza season has begun. Seasonal influenza activity in Delaware and neighboring states remains\n\n\n  sporadic at this point (a few cases of laboratory confirmed influenza) but it is still too early to say what the magnitude of influenza\n\n\n  activity will be this season.\u00a0 As always, encourage patients to get the seasonal influenza vaccine\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Summary\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Early symptoms of many emerging infectious diseases can overlap with those of more common diseases, such as seasonal human influenza.\n\n\n  Therefore, in order to prevent an emerging infectious disease outbreak, it is important for health care providers to maintain a high\n\n\n  index of suspicion and always take a good social history (including travel history) from all patients presenting to health care\n\n\n  facilities.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Ebola Virus Disease, MERS, zoonotic (animal origin) influenza, and other emerging infectious diseases often have non-specific symptoms\n\n\n  which may be difficult to differentiate from more common infections, and in many cases, unless a good social and travel history is taken,\n\n\n  these high-impact infections may be missed initially, putting many at risk for acquiring the infections.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Because seasonal influenza is easily spread from person to person by droplet spread and through fomites, it is important that steps are\n\n\n  taken to minimize the risk of spread of influenza in healthcare settings.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Recommendations for Health Care Providers\/Facilities\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\">\n\n\n  <li>Develop a protocol to ensure that patients presenting to your facility with respiratory symptoms are immediately separated from other\n\n\n  patients in the waiting and care areas\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Develop a protocol to ensure that sick people visiting your facility are screened for travel to destinations outside of the\n\n\n  continental U.S., and that they are also screened for unusual exposures (including exposure to sick animals).\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>A sample screening protocol is available on the DPH website at\u00a0<a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/emergingandtravelrelatedinfdiseasescreeningtool.pdf\">http:\/\/www.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/files\/emergingandtravelrelatedinfdiseasescreeningtool.pdf<\/a>.\n\n\n    <ul>\n\n\n      <li>NOTE: this is just a sample of a tool\/protocol you may use. We recommend that you adjust this screening tool to meet the\n\n\n      particular needs of your facility in order to ensure that your staff use the tool consistently and with all patients and can thus\n\n\n      quickly pick up suspect cases.\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n    <\/ul>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Outpatient facilities:<\/strong> Ensure that your facility\u2019s protocol allows for the immediate separation of suspect\n\n\n    patients from common areas. Also ensure that you have at least a few sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand for staff\n\n\n    completing examinations to use, should the need arise and that staff are trained in the proper use of PPE. In addition, staff should be\n\n\n    familiar with and adhere to appropriate infection control practices at all times to protect both staff and patients.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Inpatient facilities<\/strong>: Ensure that patients suspected of harboring a high-impact emerging infectious disease are placed\n\n\n    in single occupancy room and that staff follow appropriate protocols for isolation precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE)\n\n\n    use. Also ensure that staff receive regular routine training on proper use of PPE and infection control practices.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Call the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 888-295-5156 immediately to report any suspected cases of an emerging\n\n\n  infectious disease, particularly if you suspect a disease that is highly contagious.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Encourage patients to get the seasonal influenza vaccine\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Put measures in place to ensure that staff do not become a vehicle for transmission of influenza to patients and other staff. Some\n\n\n  such measures might include:\n\n\n    <ul>\n\n\n      <li>Mandating influenza vaccination in the absence of contra-indications; enforcing masking during patient care for staff who choose\n\n\n      to not be vaccinated; protocols for the exclusion of sick or convalescing staff; enforcement of proper hand-hygiene and respiratory\n\n\n      etiquette in all clinical areas\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n    <\/ul>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Remember that influenza is a reportable disease. All laboratory confirmed cases of influenza should be reported to the DPH at\n\n\n  888-295-5156\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Additional Information\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Call Public Health OIDE at 888-295-5156 to immediately report any suspected cases of a high-impact emerging infectious disease\n\n\n  including (but not limited to) Ebola, MERS-CoV\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Continue to report laboratory confirmed influenza cases electronically, through paper forms or by telephone\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>If you are an outpatient facility and would like training for your staff on the proper use of PPE, or basic infection control\n\n\n  practice, please call DPH at 888-295-5156\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Sample patient screening tool: <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/emergingandtravelrelatedinfdiseasescreeningtool.pdf\">http:\/\/www.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/files\/emergingandtravelrelatedinfdiseasescreeningtool.pdf<\/a>.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  ************************************\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  You are receiving this email because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network. If you are not a member and would\n\n\n  like to subscribe, please register at <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalertde.org\">https:\/\/healthalertde.org<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p class=\"smalltext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Adobe Acrobat Reader\" height=\"21\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/dhss\/img\/getacro60.gif\" width=\"60\"><\/a> Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\">Adobe <\/a>. If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/access.adobe.com\">Accessibility Tools page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--[END]-->\n\n  \n\n        <div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n       <\/div>\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n      <ul>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n          <\/div> \n\n        <\/div><br>  \n\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #354 November 5, 2015 3:19 pm Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10328","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10328"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11504,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10328\/revisions\/11504"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www-test.dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}