Tuesday morning, a female employee frantically restocks containers of hand sanitizer at the Safeway at 6th and Corona downtown.
We had a run on them yesterday, she says, refilling the shelves. Would you like a mask? We have those too.
She says shes concerned about the swine flu that has yet to hit Colorado but has already claimed at least 159 lives in Mexico and is cutting a random path through the US, New Zealand, Scotland and even Israel.
But Im not overly worried, the employee adds. Im just going to wash my hands a lot.
The first swine flu death in the US, a 22-month-old Mexican boy who was brought to Houston, Texas, for medical treatment, was reported Wednesday, April 29.
US cases surged from 40 to almost 100 between Monday and Wednesday.
At press time, the World Health Organization raised the alert level to phase 5 meaning a global pandemic is imminent.
Mexico is the epicenter of this vastly unpredictable virus, a combination of two strains of swine flu, one strain of bird flu and one strain of human flu.
Colorado, like the rest of the nation and the world, is in preparedness mode, says Mark Salley, director of communications for the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
CDPHE is the lead agency for emergency support function 8-public health, which activated its incident command center Monday, April 27.
Thankfully, were not seeing the severity of swine flu that is affecting Mexico, Salley told the IJN Tuesday. Cases in the US continue to be mild. But as the incidence of swine flu continues to grow, we cant say for certain it will remain that way.
Salley urges what can best be described as a calm state of awareness.
We appreciate the fact that people are heeding public health messages, he says. For years, Colorado has encouraged the public to prepare home emergency kits for various situations.
Those measures include a two-week supply of food and water, as well as medical necessities.
CDPHE is working closely with the governors office, hospitals, medical providers and other agencies to monitor the swine flu epidemic.
Colorado has applied for 167,000 courses of the anti-viral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza from the national stockpile. Each course covers five days of treatment.
Tamiflu comprises 80% of the order, with Relenza accounting for the remaining 20%.
Pharmacies throughout the state already stock Tamiflu and Relenza in the tens of thousands, says Salley.
The number of doses requisitioned by Colorado from the national stockpile far exceed the number of cases of swine flu reported in Mexico, he says. We feel we have an adequate supply.
The drugs wont be distributed unless needed.
CDPHE says the best defense against contracting the swine flu involves the same precautions utilized during a typical flu season: frequent hand washing, covering ones face when sneezing or coughing, avoiding others with a respiratory illness, and staying home if symptoms develop.
Once ill, the decision whether to seek medical attention should exercise the same criteria used for seasonal influenza, says Salley.
Since the current form of swine flu is similar to the seasonal flu, we encourage people to see a doctor if symptoms are severe or compromise an underlying health condition.
However, if everyone went to the doctor, it could flood the medical system. So if symptoms are mild, stay home.
Some national health officials endorse a policy of social distancing to curtail the spread of swine flu.
In Mexico, officials have closed churches, parks, restaurants and other public places to minimize public contact.
Salley says Colorado is cognizant of social distancing and has systems in place if they become necessary.
GEERC, the Governors Expert Emergency Epidemic Response Committee, has 25 representatives from numerous local public health agencies, hospitals, the national guard and other bodies who consult with the governor on emergency state health measures.
Although the state lacks resources for an organized buddy check system, Salley encourages friends, family and neighbors to keep a close eye on shut-ins and the elderly during any crisis.
But were not at that stage yet, he says of the swine flu epidemic.
Daily updates on the progress of the swine flu are now being issued between 2-3 p.m. by the CDPHE and Denver Public Health at Denver Health.
Information also is available at www.cdphe.state.co.us; the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov; or by calling the general Colorado information line at (877) 462-2911.
Because statistics on swine flu change rapidly, Salley refuses to indulge in best- or worst-case scenarios.
I dont speculate, he says.
We just want to be prepared in either scenario whether the swine flu escalates, or diminishes.
