Supervisors Declare Flu Emergency - Health News Story - KCRA Sacramento: "SACRAMENTO, Calif. --
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to declare a flu emergency."
The vote came at the request of Dr. Glennah Trochet, the county's public health officer, who said local hospitals have seen a dramatic rise in the number of patients admitted with likely cases of H1N1 flu.
Trochet told board members hospitalizations have increased from 36 two weeks ago to 51 last week. She said 15 people in Sacramento County have died from the H1N1 virus.
Trochet said the emergency declaration will allow her to coordinate with other county departments to fight the spread of the disease with medications and masks.
"It just eases our ability to access, for example, warehouses that may be held by other departments in which to put these supplies," Trochet said.
Trochet said the declaration will also make it easier for hospitals to set up more beds in case they see an even greater surge of infected patients.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to declare a flu emergency."
The vote came at the request of Dr. Glennah Trochet, the county's public health officer, who said local hospitals have seen a dramatic rise in the number of patients admitted with likely cases of H1N1 flu.
Trochet told board members hospitalizations have increased from 36 two weeks ago to 51 last week. She said 15 people in Sacramento County have died from the H1N1 virus.
Trochet said the emergency declaration will allow her to coordinate with other county departments to fight the spread of the disease with medications and masks.
"It just eases our ability to access, for example, warehouses that may be held by other departments in which to put these supplies," Trochet said.
Trochet said the declaration will also make it easier for hospitals to set up more beds in case they see an even greater surge of infected patients.