FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      CONTACT: Donna Tommelleo, 860-524-7313

November 5, 2009                         donna.tommelleo@ct.gov

                                                      William Gerrish, 860-509-7106

                                                       william.gerrish@ct.gov

3,000 Bottles of Pediatric Anti-Viral Arrive Today

Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state has received 3,000 bottles of pediatric Tamiflu from the federal government to help medical personnel at hospitals and clinics treat the growing cases of H1N1 influenza among children.

“We continue to see a marked increase in the number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in both children and adults,” Governor Rell said. “But any parent who has ever stayed up all night with a sick child knows how difficult and heartbreaking it can be. It is important to treat the symptoms as soon as possible and so we must ensure that the medication is available.”

The Governor said Connecticut’s allocation of the pediatric Tamiflu is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) nationwide release of 234,000 courses of pediatric Tamiflu from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS).

Department of Public Health officials say the pediatric Tamiflu will be distributed on Monday to 17 acute care hospitals that have pediatric treatment programs and 12 community health clinics, which treat underserved populations in the state.

The Governor last week requested more of the state’s allocation of Tamiflu and Relenza, another antiviral, from the stockpile. The state is awaiting word on whether the CDC will release more of the antivirals for adult patients as well. The CDC has raised Connecticut’s flu activity to “widespread,” the highest level of activity.

In April, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provided Connecticut with more than 130,000 treatment courses of antiviral medication, or 25 percent of the state’s SNS allocation for distribution to acute care hospitals and community health centers. Tamiflu and Relenza are administered in the early stages of the illness and lessen its severity and duration.

 The drugs interfere with the ability of the virus to make copies of itself, which in turn helps the body fight the infection. Each treatment course is a 10-day supply of either Tamiflu or Relenza.

For more information on H1N1 resources in Connecticut call the H1N1 hot line at: 800-830-9426, or visit the www.ct.gov/ctfluwatch

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