Whatcom County Awaits Antivirals

  
Press Release                               Date: May 5, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          

Media Contact:    Joe Bates
Phone:        (360) 676-6717, Ext. 52510
E-mail address:    JBates@co.whatcom.wa.us
       
       
WHATCOM AWAITS ANTIVIRALS AS NINE H1N1 CASES CONFIRMED IN STATE

BELLINGHAM, WA—On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed nine cases of the H1N1 (swine) influenza in Washington state. Although there are no confirmed Whatcom cases, Whatcom County Health Department is implementing a plan to receive and distribute its Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) allocation of antiviral medications.

According to the Health Department, supplies are due to arrive from Washington State’s Department of Health (DOH) within the next two days. DOH led the development of the Washington state plan for receiving and managing the SNS.

The State is rapidly repackaging antivirals received earlier this week from the CDC. The antivirals are repackaged onto pallets for distribution to cities and counties. Once these pallets are received by the Health Department, a distribution plan will be announced. The Health Department is currently working with St. Joseph Hospital and local pharmacies to determine specific dispensing sites.

More information on the Strategic National Stockpile is available from the CDC Web site: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/stockpile/.

The Health Department emphasizes that the public can easily prevent the spread of influenza by regular hand washing with water or hand sanitizer and covering your cough. If you are ill, avoid contact with others to prevent the spread of the virus.

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