Pandemic Flu Preparedness

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• Pandemic Flu Preparedness
• Lisa Kirk, Dr.P.H.
• Columbia Presbyterian Church
• April 6, 2006

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(No Transcript)
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Outline of Presentation
Finish
Planning at Home
Start
Planning in Maryland
Planning as a Priority
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Pandemic Influenza Planning A High Priority

• Experts consider another pandemic inevitable
• Little warning before pandemic strikes
• Impact of next pandemic
• could be severe

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Time Interval Between Influenza Pandemics
1889
1918
1957
?
1968
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1918
2006
to
World Population
6.5 Billion
1.8 Billion
Primary Mode of Transportation
Ships, Railroad
Jet airplane, Automobile
Time for Virus to Circle the Globe
Months
Days
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Americas deaths from 1918 influenza pandemic
greater than the number of U.S. servicemen
killed in any war
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Impact on Maryland of a Moderate and Severe
Influenza Pandemic
Health Impact
Estimated Number of Persons in Maryland
Estimates based on extrapolation from past
pandemics in the United States. Note that
estimates do not include the potential impact of
interventions not available during the 20th
century pandemics.
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Pandemic Influenza Planning A High Priority

• Pandemic will be widespread, with many geographic
  areas affected simultaneously, preventing shifts
  in resources
• Effect on individual communities will be
  relatively prolonged 6 to 8 weeks ()

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Pandemic Influenza Planning A High Priority

• Pandemic will pose significant threats to work
  force responsible for critical community services
  due to widespread absenteeism (up to 30)
• Effective preventive and therapeutic measures
  (vaccines and antiviral agents) will
  likely be in short supply

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Outline of Presentation
Finish
Planning at Home
Start
Planning in Maryland
Planning as a Priority
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Maryland Influenza Summit
                                                
                                                  
                                            
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., and Mike
Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services,
addressed a statewide summit on pandemic
influenza on February 24, 2005.  The U.S.
Surgeon General, the Department of Homeland
Security and state and local officials
responsible for health care, schools, government
and emergency management were also in
attendance. 
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Overview of Maryland State Government
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Maryland Local Health Departments
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Maryland Preparedness and Response Goals

• Prevent/Delay introduction of pandemic into
  Maryland
• Slow spread of pandemic when in Maryland
• Reduce illnesses
• Reduce deaths
• Sustain infrastructure and mitigate social and
  economic impact of pandemic

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Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic in Maryland

• Initiated formal planning for pandemic in 1999
• Developed pandemic influenza response plan
• Conducted several conferences and tabletop
  exercises
• Provided educational training for various public
  school systems

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Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic in Maryland

• Developed a poultry worker protection plan
• Provided guidance on which patients to test for
  H5N1
• Assessed hospital bed capacity
• Produced new website at flu.maryland.gov

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Preparing for an Influenza Pandemic in Maryland
Maryland uses several methods to detect forsigns
of a future pandemic

• Syndromic surveillance collects information about
  illnesses in emergency room patients
• Sentinel health care providers report number of
  influenza-like illnesses they diagnose
• Hospitals report health care workers hospitalized
  with pneumonia and hospitalizations and deaths in
  children who test positive for influenza
• Clinical labs report evidence of influenza
• Lab tests for various influenza strains,
  including H5N1

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Outline of Presentation
Finish
Planning at Home
Start
Planning in Maryland
Planning as a Priority
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Planning at Home

• Pandemic Influenza Planning A Guide for
  Individuals and Families
• US Department of Health and Human Services,
  January 2006

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Planning Considerations

• Social disruption
• Plan for possibility that usual services may be
  disrupted
• Prepare backup plans in case gatherings, such as
  volunteer meetings and worship services, are
  canceled
• Consider how to care for people with special
  needs

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Planning Considerations

• Work may be difficult
• Find out if you can work from home
• Ask your employer about how business will
  continue
• Plan for the possible reduction or loss of income
  if unable to work or closure
• Check with employer or union about leave policies

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Planning Considerations

• Schools may be closed
• Help schools plan for pandemic influenza
• Plan home learning activities and exercises
• Consider childcare needs

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Planning Considerations

• Transportation may be disrupted
• Think about how you can rely less on public
  transportation
• Prepare backup plans for taking
  care of loved ones
• Consider other ways to get
  to work or work at home

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Planning Considerations

• People will need advice and help at work and home
  
• Prepare information the people in work will need
  insurance, leave, work from home, loss of
  income, sick work
• Meet with colleagues
• Find volunteers
• Identify other information sources
• Find support systems

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Control Measures BEFORE a Pandemic

• Annual Influenza Vaccine
• Pandemic Strain Vaccine (once available)
• Personal hygiene and health
• Hand washing
• Cover your cough
• Stay home if you are sick

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Control Measures BEFORE a Pandemic

• Be prepared
• Nonperishable foods
• Water
• Checklists Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for
  Individuals and Families
• Family Health Information Sheet
• Emergency Contacts

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Control Measures BEFORE a Pandemic

• Stay healthy
• Wash hands frequently
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when cough
  or sneeze (used sleeve if no tissue)
• Put used tissues in waste basket
• Stay at home if
• you are sick
• Eat balanced diet
• Exercise
• Rest

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Control Measures BEFORE a Pandemic

• Get informed
• Reliable, accurate, and timely information is
  available www.pandemicflu.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Hotline 1-800-CDC-INFO
• Questions can be e-mailed to inquiry_at_cdc.gov
• State and local flu.maryland.gov, radio, news,
  health officials

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Control Measures DURING a Pandemic

• Antiviral agents and vaccine (once available)
• Personal hygiene and health
• Hand washing
• Cover your cough
• Stay home if ill
• Avoid touching your eyes,
  
  nose or mouth
• Isolation of sick people
• Quarantine of exposed, healthy people

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Control Measures DURING a Pandemic

• Measures to increase social distance such
  as canceling mass gatherings, closing
• schools
• Limit spread of infection by travelers
• Respirators, surgical/dust masks
• Educate children
• Use caution with over
  
• the counter medications

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Control Measures DURING a Pandemic

• Poultry
• Wash hands before and after preparing food
• Keep raw poultry away from others foods
• Keep hands, utensils, and surfaces clean
• Use food thermometer
• to cook fully (180 F)

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• Conclusion

• Threat of another influenza pandemic is real
• Maryland has a pandemic influenza response
  plan and continues to monitor for signs of a
  possible influenza pandemic
• Preparing for an influenza pandemic requires
  coordinated action at all levels of
  government and sectors of society
• Families, churches, businesses, schools,
  medical community and others

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• Thank You

• Questions?

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