CDC is Updating Influenza Guidance Document

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) is updating its document, “Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel,” with new information that has become available.

The CDC acknowledges that when the interim infection control guidance for 2009 H1N1 was posted, “substantial uncertainties existed regarding the severity of disease and health impact of the novel H1N1 influenza strain, a high proportion of the population was susceptible to the new virus, and the vaccine was not available.” Circumstances have changed significantly since then, the CDC says, noting, “ First, a safe and effective vaccine has become widely available. Second, we now have information about the number of cases of disease, hospitalizations, and deaths caused by 2009 H1N1, which can be compared to historical seasonal influenza data. The current circumstances justify an update of the recommendations.” 

In updating this particular guidance document, the CDC says it will consolidate recommendations into a comprehensive, easily accessible document. Currently, experts at the CDC and other federal agencies are reviewing and editing the guidance, after which time input from the public will be sought. After the guidance is reviewed by experts within the federal government, it will be published in the Federal Register. In that way, all who are interested may review and submit comments on the content, and CDC will consider those comments before finalizing and publishing the guidance.  The CDC will announce when the document is published in the Federal Register.