Amador County - The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday heard a presentation by members of the Public Health Department on Amador County’s efforts to prepare for any future outbreaks from the H1N1, or “Swine flu” pandemic. In California, there have been six deaths. One case of the virus was discovered in an Amador County man who returned from Mexico in mid-April, but Amador County Health Officer Dr. Robert Hartmann assured that that case was mild and the man recovered to full health without any propagation of the illness. On June 11, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide Pandemic Influenza Alert Level to Phase Six, the highest such designation for a flu outbreak. The US now has 37,000 documented cases and 211 documented deaths from H1N1. Every single country in the southern hemisphere has reported the virus. Hartmann narrated a PowerPoint presentation outlining the impact and response to other major historical outbreaks. “We generally say that we have three worldwide pandemics per century,” he said. The largest in modern history was the 1918 Spanish Flu, or what Hartmann referred to as the “granddaddy of all pandemics.” That outbreak killed about 50 to 100 million people worldwide over the course of a year. He said the second wave of the Spanish Flu was five times as viral. He said county officials should prepare for a possible second stronger wave of the H1N1 virus. The current H1N1 fatality rate is 0.4%. Outbreaks are increasing in the northern hemisphere, and ninety cases have occurred amongst health care workers. Hartmann said the most worrisome figure is that the median age for infection is down to 17 and “hitting young populations much more heavily.” Amador County Public Health Director Angel LaSage said the county is utilizing a recent $150,000 state grant to prepare for the future by purchasing pharmaceutical type refrigerators and staying abreast of new science and information. Hartmann said the Health Department’s goal is to be “first, fast and accurate” in relaying health information to the public and gaining the public’s trust. LaSage said “vaccines are being developed and developed rapidly.” Ironically, one US company is testing the vaccine in pigs. Supervisor John Plasse said “it’s good to see that Amador County isn’t putting their head in the sand as was done in 1918.” County Counsel Martha Shaver noted amusingly that county code still contains provisions requiring the reporting of Spanish flu. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.