Boston is in a battle with the flu. The number of confirmed flu cases, 700, is 10 times higher than all the confirmed cases in the city last season. Mayor Thomas Menino officially declared a public-health emergency in the city earlier this week, and announced there would be free flu vaccinations available this weekend. 
According to a report published on Boston.com, Massachusetts General Hospital is seeing an additional 40 to 80 patients per day in its outpatient clinics and emergency room with flu-like illness. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center opened a previously closed wing to accommodate the influx of patients sick with the flu or the intestinal illness norovirus, which is also circulating. Hospitals are also taking measures to protect patients, who are admitted for other conditions, from contracting the virus. Visitors and staff who have a fever along with other flu symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough or body aches are being asked to stay home. So far this season, Boston is the only city to declare a health emergency due to flu, but it may not be the last. A recent report published by Trust for America’s Health rated each state’s ability to respond to major health emergencies. Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism ranked states’ preparedness for health emergencies on a one-to-10 scale. More than half of the states (35) were rated six or lower. Massachusetts is one of those states, receiving a rating of six. The Bay State lost points for the following reasons:
According to a report published on Boston.com, Massachusetts General Hospital is seeing an additional 40 to 80 patients per day in its outpatient clinics and emergency room with flu-like illness. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center opened a previously closed wing to accommodate the influx of patients sick with the flu or the intestinal illness norovirus, which is also circulating. Hospitals are also taking measures to protect patients, who are admitted for other conditions, from contracting the virus. Visitors and staff who have a fever along with other flu symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough or body aches are being asked to stay home. So far this season, Boston is the only city to declare a health emergency due to flu, but it may not be the last. A recent report published by Trust for America’s Health rated each state’s ability to respond to major health emergencies. Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism ranked states’ preparedness for health emergencies on a one-to-10 scale. More than half of the states (35) were rated six or lower. Massachusetts is one of those states, receiving a rating of six. The Bay State lost points for the following reasons:
- It did not meet HHS goal of vaccinating 90% of 19 to 35 month olds against whooping cough.
- It does not participate in a Nurse Licensure Compact
- The state public health lab has not reported increasing or maintaining their LRN-C chemical capability
- The state public health lab does not have enough staffing capacity to work five, 12-hour days for six to eight weeks in response to an infectious disease outbreak, such as novel influenza A H1N1.
However, the report also says that all states, including Massachusetts, have developed preparedness plans and pandemic flu plans. Prior pandemic flu threats have raised the bar for such disaster preparedness. Although Boston’s latest bout with the flu may not be a major health emergency, it speaks to the value of having a plan in place should such an emergency come along.
