Montgomery County sentinel., 1957-10-10
State Tells Us
Light Flu Outbreak
Due TO Hit County

influenza lCTtbCH tOuo "''''
Health Department.
Towards the latter part OF May OF thls year,
yvdespread epdemics of influenza developed in
tho Far Fast. Since then the disease has spread
until nearly all of the countries of the world have
had some outbreaks So far in this country the
disease has largely been confined to groups in
crowded situations.
We can look forward to an outbreak this fall
which will be of moderate intensity more eXten-
sve than anything we have encountered since
1943 but not alarming in its proportlonE The
attack rate may resemble that seen in Australia;
about 10 to Is percent rather than the rates OF
$3.50 percent seen in Chile and the Philippines
The disease will be mild and in general bacterial
complications will be infrequent.
The State Health Department in cooperation
with the Baltimore City and County Health De
partments has already taken steps to gather in
telligence rapidly regarding unusual outbreaks
of respiratory illness, outbreaks of hulke dis
ease increases in the pneumonia rate and in
creases in absenteeism in schools and industries.
The State Health Department laboratory has
already set up a statewide system of laboratory
confirmation of a sample of cases to positively
identify the exact agent causing the illness:
A weekly report is being sent to the U. s.
Public Health Service of the situation in Maryland
and the PIIS is reciprocating by sending frequent
information from the rest of the United States and
the world
Special arrangements have been made with
hospitals to secure information from complicated
and fatal cases so that this information can be
transmitted rapidly to physicians.
On August 80, the State Director of Health
took the initiative in inviting representatives from
medical, hospital, nursing, pharmaceutical, educa-
ton, welfare, voluntary health agencies and other
appropriate groups to form State Influenza Plan
ming Committee.
The function of this group is to develop and
carry out plan which will make maximum
of all existing community resources to combat
the outbreak
Medical authorities have recommended that
the best place to treat influenza is at home and
it is estimated that over SO percent of will
be cared for in their homes by their own
private physician.
Because of the communicability and short in
cubation period, it may be expected that not in
frequently, more than one member of family
may be i'll simultaneously, making adequate home
care difficult at times To meet this nursing
problem each local planning committee shall plan
to mobilize and make full of all registered
nurses practicing not licensed practical nurses,
individuals trained in home nursing by the Red
Cross, public health nurses and any other groups
who may have training and experience in home
nursing.
With assistance from the Red Cross, civil de-
fense and other appropriate groups attempts
should be made to have available a volunteer
home-nnaker service which would render assistance
to such families by doing the shopping, cooking
meals and performing other needed services.
Such groups should set up planning com
mittees, advance vaccination of personnel lirnita
ton of admissions to complicated cases, limita-
ofo o1o
establishment of rigid isolation techniques, and
advance stocking of necessary supplies such as
oxygen and antibiotics.
Accurate information about bed space is al
ready available through the Maryland Hospital
Association, the Baltimore Hospital Council, and
the Division of Hospitals of the State Health De-
partnent. 1t is believed sufficient hospital beds
will be available for those patients with complica
tons of influenza requiring hospital care.
The primary problem in hospital care will
be securing adequate nursing personnel. The SUBJ
committee on nursing personnel of the State
Planning Committee is charged with the respon
sibility of bringing together all information on
nursing resources.
A concerted effort should be made by the
State and local health departments by physicians,
nurses teachers, pharmacists and others in a
position to give information that this IS mild
disease of brief duration few complications and
al eAueIiIely low IdIdlly rate. General Vacclna
ton promotion is not recommended at this time.
Instead the Health Department has placed
top emphasis on the same three groups specified
by the U. s. Public Health Service, the Associa-
ton of State and Territorial Health Officers, the
American Medical Association and other medical
authorities
These are:
the chroncally ill where, in the judgment
of the physician in charge, the added risk is ap
preciable.
those who are engaged in the care of the
sick
other essential community services
1t should be emphasized that it will be sew
eral months before the supply of vaccine is ade.
quate No general public vaccination clinics are
contemplated
1t is recommended that the holding of public
gatherings not be curtaled on the basis of the
prevention and control of influenza However
in some instances there may be administrative
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