Alaskan transparency = evaporation

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Alaskan transparency = evaporation

My reply...
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For those people who want to follow the exact novel H1N1 numbers in Alaska, by region, and had previously utilized the regional chart at: http://www.epi.alaska.gov/id/influenza/swineflu.htm

...might I suggest a direct link on the above page to:

http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/id/influenza/influenza.jsp

...just like the red one ("Current Influenza Activity in Alaska") at the top of:

http://www.epi.alaska.gov/id/influenza/fluinfo.htm

I believe that if people knew the exact number of hospitalized cases in their region, it would be a good motivator to better prevention behaviors. When those numbers are not available, it tends to give the impression there is something to hide and public health officials can loose their crediblity. I think this is especially true for people who normally don't get influenza vaccinations - if they're convinced there are significant serious (hospitalized) cases, it might motivate them to get a vaccination or at least practice better prevention measures.

Thanks for your time to consider my concerns,


Denise xxxxxx
xxxxxxx, AK

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[Laidback Al]

Re: Alaskan transparency = evaporation

Thanks for staying on this Denise. We must continue to demand information that will help us prepare and keep ourselves safe as this pandemic progresses.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Alaskan transparency = evaporation

Late today I got a response from a major state TV network.....
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Several people have posed this question to us. When I did some checking I
found that the CDC is no longer requiring states to report individual cases.
Here is the link:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/surveillanceqa.htm

I hope this answers part of your question.

Mxxxx Jxxxx
Kxxx Assignment Editor


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My response.....

Mxxxxx:

Thanks for checking out this issue.

While the CDC may not require reporting more specific influenza
numbers, that would not prevent AK DHSS from doing so - as are many
other states.

I believe it's a matter of transparency, truth, and official
credibility - to say nothing of motivating Alaskans to practice
appropriate prevention strategies.

I've written DHSS and received replies, with the latest one being
that they will be discussing the issue among their medical staff.

I believe that Alaskans deserve the truth and less than full
disclosure tends to lead to perceptions that there is something to
hide. In this era of governmental distrust, anything that even
smells like a coverup leads to more distrust. In John Barrey's book
about the 1918 pandemic, he said they learned the hard way that truth
is the best policy.

I will make one concession to removing the old case count chart -
since all cases are understandably not tested, simple cases counts
are meaningless. However, knowing the number of hospitalized cases
by region can impress people with the seriousness of the disease and
provide incentives toward improved solutions.

Please try to convince our state's DHSS to release numbers about
confirmed hospitalized cases and confirmed deaths by influenza strain
(novel A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B).

Thank you for your efforts and Kxxx's great coverage of in-state news,

Denise
xxxxx, AK

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[Amish Country]

Re: Alaskan transparency = evaporation

Nicely done Denise.

[WhitewaterOregon]

Re: Alaskan transparency = evaporation

good job