Bird flu preparations are on local public health officials’ radar, as the H5N1 virus continues to spread rapidly among dairy cows across the U.S. There have been no human or livestock cases of bird flu in New York to date, state Health Department spokesperson Erin Clary told POLITICO on Thursday. And the department is on alert: It expanded wastewater surveillance and, as requested by the CDC, extended its influenza surveillance beyond the typical end of the regular respiratory illness season in May. Should the need arise, the state-run Wadsworth Center Public Health Laboratory has sufficient capacity to test several hundred human H5N1 specimens daily. Supplemental funding and supplies are available from a national repository in the event of an emergency, so the state could expand its diagnostic capacity to tens of thousands of tests per day. In New York City, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is putting contracts into place for a pharmacy to provide same-day medication delivery, a public health call center, a vaccination and specimen collection service and temporary staffing agencies that could be quickly leveraged during an emergency. The city is also placing a “hold order” with a national medical supply distributor for personal protective equipment, meaning it can be called in at any time and distributed to local health care facilities — in contrast to static stockpiles, which require maintenance and replenishment as products expire. “From Covid-19 to isolated disease outbreaks, the Health Department has a long and distinguished record of emergency response,” New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan said. Hospitals play a key role in identifying patients with suspected emerging pathogens, but they have to contend with the lack of a readily available PCR test to detect the H5N1 subtype. At NYC Health + Hospitals, researchers monitoring wastewater for influenza are developing genetic tests for H5N1 to enhance early detection efforts. The Greater New York Hospital Association says hospitals are prepared for any bird flu cases with 60-day stockpiles of personal protective equipment and flex-and-surge plans that can be activated for any influx of patients. “Our hospitals continuously work to ensure readiness for these infections by implementing protocols for screening, ensuring precautions are in place to minimize transmission, and informing public health authorities and other key stakeholders,” Erin DuPree, the association’s senior vice president and physician executive for quality and clinical initiatives, said in a statement. IN OTHER NEWS: — City and state health officials are investigating reports of hepatitis C infection in multiple patients who underwent procedures between Sept. 1, 2022, and Aug. 31, 2023, at American Access Care locations in the Bronx, Plainview and Queens, the state Health Department said in a release Friday. The department is still investigating but does not consider the situation a broader public health risk, given that exposure has been limited to a very specific group of patients. All patients who had procedures at affected clinics during that time frame are being notified by American Access Care and being offered no-cost, confidential blood testing. — Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a legislative package Friday to support New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. The package includes measures to update the state’s HIV testing laws to align with CDC guidance and to prohibit insurers from requesting prior authorization for covered antiretroviral drugs for treatment or prevention of HIV or AIDS. ON THE AGENDA: — Monday at 11 a.m. The NYC Health + Hospitals board of directors hosts a finance committee meeting. — Monday at 12 p.m. The NYC Health + Hospitals board of directors hosts a capital committee meeting. MAKING ROUNDS: — Syra Madad was named chief biopreparedness officer of NYC Health + Hospitals, leading the system-wide special pathogens team and overseeing emergency preparedness drills. GOT TIPS? Send story ideas and feedback to Maya Kaufman at mkaufman@politico.com. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You’ll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day’s biggest stories.
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