The Department of Health confirmed 3 more deaths linked to H1N1/swine flu Thursday, bringing the city's death toll to 15, as the World Health Organization(WHO) declares a swine flu pandemic.
According to the DOH, one victim was under the age of 4, one was between 5 and 24 years old, and the other was between 25 and 54. No other details have been released.
On Wednesday, 3 other deaths were confirmed.
Most of the serious cases and deaths have been in people with established risk factors for flu complications.
The news came as the Health Department released statistics showing that one in 7 New Yorkers had reported flu-like symptoms during the first 3 weeks of last month.
Officials say a telephon of those polled said they had symptoms like fever and cough or a sore throat between May 1 & May 20, meaning more than a half-million New Yorkers could have been sick with the H1N1 virus.
In response to flu concerns, New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn is restricting visits to the maternity and pediatric wards.
Only a husband or significant other will be allowed in to the maternity ward. And only parents can visit the pediatric ward.
A hospital spokeswoman says there was no H1N1 incident at the hospital, but since it is highly contagious, they wanted to limit the number of visits into units where patients are more vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the city's public safety, health, and governmental operation committees met Thursday to discuss the virus.
City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, as well as education and emergency management officials, testified before City Council members.
Department of Education and Department of Correction representatives were also on hand to answer questions, but did not testify.
During the hearing, Farley was asked several pointed questions, including why the city has limited its sharing of details about those who have died from the flu strain.
"The information that the vast majority people who have died have had underlying conditions is important for people to know and that we have provided information about the frequency of underlying conditions that are important," said Farley.
"You have a panic with the failure to have information, you have less of a panic the more information that is out there," said United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.
The hearing also aired concerns over how the city decides to close schools when a high number of flu absences are reported.
"We did not have and we still do not have an absolute set of criteria, by which you can go down the list and check things off to determine whether a school should be closed," said NY City Deputy Health Commissioner Adam Karpati.
Looking ahead, Farley said the greatest challenge the city faces is making policy decisions in the face of medical and scientific uncertainty.
On a global level, H1N1 continues to spread.
In a statement sent to member countries, WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 - its highest alert – after holding an emergency meeting on swine flu with its experts.
It is the 1st global flu pandemic in 41 years.
source: http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/100582/city-council-holds-hearing-on-response-to-h1n1/Default.aspx
According to the DOH, one victim was under the age of 4, one was between 5 and 24 years old, and the other was between 25 and 54. No other details have been released.
On Wednesday, 3 other deaths were confirmed.
Most of the serious cases and deaths have been in people with established risk factors for flu complications.
The news came as the Health Department released statistics showing that one in 7 New Yorkers had reported flu-like symptoms during the first 3 weeks of last month.
Officials say a telephon of those polled said they had symptoms like fever and cough or a sore throat between May 1 & May 20, meaning more than a half-million New Yorkers could have been sick with the H1N1 virus.
In response to flu concerns, New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn is restricting visits to the maternity and pediatric wards.
Only a husband or significant other will be allowed in to the maternity ward. And only parents can visit the pediatric ward.
A hospital spokeswoman says there was no H1N1 incident at the hospital, but since it is highly contagious, they wanted to limit the number of visits into units where patients are more vulnerable.
Meanwhile, the city's public safety, health, and governmental operation committees met Thursday to discuss the virus.
City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, as well as education and emergency management officials, testified before City Council members.
Department of Education and Department of Correction representatives were also on hand to answer questions, but did not testify.
During the hearing, Farley was asked several pointed questions, including why the city has limited its sharing of details about those who have died from the flu strain.
"The information that the vast majority people who have died have had underlying conditions is important for people to know and that we have provided information about the frequency of underlying conditions that are important," said Farley.
"You have a panic with the failure to have information, you have less of a panic the more information that is out there," said United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.
The hearing also aired concerns over how the city decides to close schools when a high number of flu absences are reported.
"We did not have and we still do not have an absolute set of criteria, by which you can go down the list and check things off to determine whether a school should be closed," said NY City Deputy Health Commissioner Adam Karpati.
Looking ahead, Farley said the greatest challenge the city faces is making policy decisions in the face of medical and scientific uncertainty.
On a global level, H1N1 continues to spread.
In a statement sent to member countries, WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 - its highest alert – after holding an emergency meeting on swine flu with its experts.
It is the 1st global flu pandemic in 41 years.
source: http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/100582/city-council-holds-hearing-on-response-to-h1n1/Default.aspx
