1. Pandemic H1N1 Influenza The California Experience
Albert Lundeen, MA, JD
California Department of Public Health
Office of Public Affairs
October 19, 2009
Plan. Prepare. Protect.

2. The First 2 Cases
“Today we report that we have confirmed two cases of swine influenza from children in California….”
CDC April 21, 2009

3. Recap of H1N1 Events
CDC lab receives 2nd H1N1 from Imperial County
San Diego reports
Local case
Mexico announces outbreak of severe respiratory illness same virus as US
WHO changes pandemic level from phase 3 to phase 4
CDC preliminarily reports first 2 cases of H1N1
CDPH establishes toll-free hotline 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
APRIL 30
CDC announces first 2 cases of H1N1
WHO declares Public Health Event of International Concern
California proclaims State of Emergency; CDPH started daily news briefings
CDC lab receives H1N1 from San Diego Navy specimen
There is another type of communicable disease outbreak for which there is no immediately available vaccine – Novel Influenza Outbreak which may go on to become a Pandemic.
Novel influenza viruses are responsible for influenza pandemics.
The world have long been overdue. This week on June 10th, the World Health Organization raised the Pandemic Influenza alert level from phase 5 to Phase 6 marking the first time in 41 years the world has seen an influenza pandemic.
The first case was detected in San Diego through the County’s sentinel system.
My Division of Public Health Services works with over 50 sentinel sites around the county year round, and especially during the regular flu season, to help detect circulating influenza viruses. Key in mind, influenza is not reportable by law, so this system helps us monitor the influenza activity.
The first case was detected in one of the Navy sentinel sites.
This timeline shows the occurrence in San Diego, along with actions conducted by CDC and WHO that impacted this worldwide epidemic.
CDPH opens JEOC
CDPH issues first news release, establishes “Twitter” to communicate latest news
CDPH starts tracking cases on its Web site

4. Recap of H1N1 Events CDPH launches Facebook 1 13 11 16 8 Week 1 Week 2
WHO raises
pandemic alert level from phase 5 to phase 6
CDC first announces criteria for school closure
Governor launches “CDPH FilmFest”
CDPH launches Facebook 1 13 11 16 8
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT
WHO changes pandemic level from phase 4 to phase 5
CA reports first death
Planning and grant writing
Establish weekly media briefings
Revamp Web site
Execute plans

5. Communication Strategies
News releases
Media briefings
Web site
Social Networking strategies
External partners

6. Communication
News Releases

7. Communication
Media briefings

8. Communication
Web site

9. Communication
Social Networking

10. Communication
External Partners
Counties
Local PIOs

11. Contact Info & Questions
Al Lundeen, Deputy Director
Questions?
Plan. Prepare. Protect.