GLORIA PENNER (host): While the economy is on the minds of many people,
there's the threat of Swine Flu, or H1N1.
It's on the minds of health care providers for around the globe
as for what is traditionally flu season.
Many questions remain about how serious swine flu will become and how prepared our hospitals
and health care systems are for handling a flu crisis.
We wanted to know how serious the threat of swine flu is San Diego County.
So, we put Dr. Wilma Wooten, public health officer for the county on the record.
And here is what she had to say: DR. WILMA WOOTEN: Swine flu threat,
now referred to pandemic H1N, previously known as swine flu, is a very serious condition.
We are now in a pandemic situation.
The World Health Organization elevated their alert phase from five to six in June.
So, we are in the middle of a pandemic.
Luckily, the pandemic influence activity has been mild or comparable to a mild flu season.
And while that's good news, the fact is, it is widespread throughout our community
and it is responsible for complications in influenza and deaths.
As of mid-week this week, we've had 19 deaths in the in San Diego County alone associated
with this new, or pandemic influenza virus.
When the vaccine is available, that is the single most important thing we can do,
but we don't have that right now.
So right now, the important thing people should do is stay home, if they are sick.
Or, 24 hours after the use of fever-lowering medications.
And, practice those preventive strategies: washing your hands; covering your cough
if you are sick and going home; if you don't have water and soap,
using hand sanitizers that's also an important strategy people can utilize as well.
PENNER: Tony, other than working on vaccines,
how prepared is our medical community for dealing with this pandemic.
TONY PERRY (The Los Angeles Times): Like all public agencies,
it doesn't staff up for the maximum use.
The fire department doesn't staff up for the 100-year fire.
And, public health is the same way.
We've got hospitals and we've got emergency rooms and we're getting our share of vaccine.
But if it starts to hit as the state is warning,
one out of four Californians -we could be in trouble.
That's why Dr. Wooten, who I think has done a terrific job throughout this whole pandemic is
saying 'wash your hands, your mother was right.
Wash your hands before you eat and after you eat.
That'll cut down.
When you start getting sick, stay home, don't go school, don't go to work, stay home."
PENNER: I'm listening to you Tony, I really am.
But the truth is, when it hits, it's very possible emergency rooms are going
to be overwhelmed, because they are already overcrowded.
They probably can't handle more patients.
What can we expect, when flu season hits.
TOM YORK (Editor, SD business journal): Well, I think that's a big question mark.
We don't know what to expect.
But, the public health agencies, the public health system,
is preparing for the worst, and I think that's a good thing.
I think business and other sectors
of the economy are really not prepared for the worst part of this.
Business, especially, needs to ramp up, think about having back ups
at various positions, especially critical positions.
People are going to get sick, and they are going to have to stay home.
Otherwise, the pandemic, as they call it, could get worse.
PENNER: Dr. Wooten mentioned the vaccinations; you know there's going
to be this tiered system which favors younger people.
How disruptive will a so-called tiered system be?
I mean, if you're older you're not going to be given the vaccinations, potentially.
PERRY: It favors certain groups that are the most vulnerable, the youngest, pregnant women,
women who might become pregnant, and then it kind of ramps from there.
It can be very disruptive, but my hope is we never get to that point where people are
on the street in downtown San Diego trying to score some swine flu vaccine.
But the problem is, it may not take just one shot this year, but up to three shots,
maybe more, as swine flu changes its genetic makeup and becomes immune to vaccine.
So, if it hits those big numbers that the folks at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta
or the folks at Public Health in Sacramento
and San Diego are warning about, we could be in hurt.