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Healthcare Provider Information |
Address:
Garrett Co. Health Dept.
1025 Memorial Drive
Oakland, MD 21550
Main Phone:
301-334-7777
or 301-895-3111
FAX: 301-334-7701
See department pages for individual phone numbers
E-Mail Webmaster
FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND MENTAL HYGIENE
As many of you are aware, on Friday April 8, 2005, the College of American Pathologists reported to clinical laboratories that several proficiency testing samples contained one or more vials of influenza A/H2N2. Laboratories were asked to destroy samples from the identified surveys.
Viruses of the H2N2 subtype have not circulated since 1967 and persons born after 1968 will have no or only limited immunity against this subtype and therefore a growing segment of the human population may be susceptible to infection by H2N2 viruses. Thus, working with H2N2 viruses could theoretically pose a health risk to laboratory staff born after 1968. No H2N2 component is contained in current trivalent influenza vaccines.
Recommendations:
1- Health care providers seeing patients presenting with influenza-like illnesses should obtain a work history to determine if the patient works in a clinical laboratory and, if so, is the patient aware if that laboratory has worked with or received these surveys. If the answer to either of these questions is "yes", please separate the patient, use droplet precautions and notify the Local Health Department immediately.
a. Place patient in a separate room
i. Negative air flow is not necessary
b. Place surgical mask on patient
c. Health care workers attending to patient should also wear surgical mask
d. Practice, as always, effective hand washing
2- Rapid Influenza antigen testing may yield both false positive and false negative results and should not be relied upon for exclusionary or inclusionary testing.
Further Resources:
1- CDC Website:
2- Local Health Departments or Maryland DHMH Epidemiology and Disease Control Programs, 410-767-6700. If after hours (M-F, 8:30am- 5pm), please call 410-407-6154, the MD On Call.