Ohio Safe School Center Informational Slides on H1N1 virus and Pandemic Flu

1
Ohio Safe School CenterInformational Slides on
H1N1 virus and Pandemic Flu

• Ohio Resource Network
• Ohio Safe School Center
• Funded by Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug
  Addictions Services, and the Ohio Department of
  Education
• 1-800-788-7254

2
Pandemic Flu Planning for Schools
Seasonal Influenza Cyclic outbreaks of disease
caused by influenza viruses that already exist in
people. H1N1 Influenza An infectious disease of
pigs caused by type A strains of the influenza
virus.
3
DEFINITIONS
Pandemic Influenza A global outbreak of disease
that occurs when a new influenza A virus (one
that has never circulated among people) appears
in the human population, causes serious illness
and then spreads easily from person to person
worldwide.
4
Historic Pandemics

• 1918 Spanish Flu (-50 million deaths worldwide,
  500,000 675,000 deaths in the U.S.) .
• 1957 Asian Flu (1-2 million deaths worldwide,
• 70,000 in the U.S) .
• 1968-69 Hong Kong Flu (700,000 deaths
  worldwide, 34,000 in the U.S.).

5
Seasonal Influenza

• 36,000 deaths in the U.S. per year.
• 120,000 hospitalizations per year.
• Last from November-March
• Flu shots help protect against virus

6
H1N1 Flu

• Some victims of the H1N1 flu virus have reported
  the following symptoms
• fever gt100 degrees
• swore throat
• cough
• stuffy nose
• chills
• headache and body ache
• fatigue

7
H1N1 Influenza vs. Human Pandemic Influenza

• H1N1 influenza occurs in pig populations but
  not normally in people
• Pandemic influenza occurs if avain or H1N1 flu
  virus jumps species to infect people and then
  becomes easily transmitted between people
  worldwide

8
What are the differences between Seasonal flu and
Pandemic flu?

• Seasonal influenza
• Occurs every year
• The type of flu people are accustomed to so they
  usually have some immunity built up from
  previous exposures
• Healthy adults usually not at risk for serious
  complications
• Vaccine available

• Pandemic influenza
• Occurs rarely (only 3 in 20th century)
• Worldwide outbreak of a new human flu virus so
  people have little or no immunity
• Healthy people may be at increased risk for
  serious complications
• No Vaccine available

9
How is pandemic influenza spread between humans ?

• Droplet Spread
• Droplets from coughing, sneezing and talking can
  contain the virus
• If deposited in mouth, nose, eyes can infect
  others
• Virus active on hard surfaces for 48 -72 hours

10
Interventions to Decrease Disease Transmission

• Social Distancing promoting respiratory
  hygiene/cough etiquette and hand hygiene to
  decrease exposure to others
• Sheltering Healthy people (not exposed) stay at
  home or where they are to keep from being
  exposed to disease.
• Isolation Separating someone who has disease
  from the general population.
• Quarantine Placing persons who have been (or may
  have been) exposed to disease in a place where
  they will not expose others.
• Health snow days Everyone who can, stays home!

11
What Can Schools Do?

• Identify those authorities responsible for case
  identification, isolation, quarantine, movement
  restriction, healthcare services, emergency care,
  and mutual aid.
• TALK WITH YOUR LOCAL
• HEALTH DEPARTMENT

12
What Can Schools Do, Continued

• Support a policy that stresses employees and
  students who are suspected of having the flu
  should not attend school.
• Staff and students, especially those with chronic
  medical conditions, should be encouraged to get
  the flu vaccine.

13
What Can Schools Do, Continued

• Allow regular breaks for students and staff to
  wash hands using soap and water.
• Waterless hand gels may be used in the classroom
  to minimize disruptions.
• Check sink locations and restrooms regularly to
  ensure they are stocked with soap, paper towels
  or working hand dryers.

14
Source Am J Infect Control 200028340-6.
15
What Can Schools Do, Continued

• Closure of school in the event of a seasonal
  flu outbreak has not proven to be an effective
  way of stopping the transmission that decision
  should be made by appropriate school officials
  based on attendance and staffing considerations.
• Discuss increased rates of absenteeism with
  local health department.

16
What Can Schools Do, Continued

• In the event of a pandemic, you may need to close
  schools. Your local and state health department
  will work with you to make a decision consistent
  with community health needs. (ORC 3707.26/
  3701.13)

17
Conclusion

• Threat of another influenza pandemic
• is real !
• Advanced planning by everyone
• is critical !

18
Resources

• For more information check out the following
  websites
• Ohio Department of Health http//www.odh.ohio.gov
  /
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  http//www.cdc.gov/
• http//www.ohiopandemicflu.gov/ Pandemic
  Influenza Toolkit for Ohio Schools may be found
  on this site under the Schools heading.
• http//pandemicflu.gov/ This Health and Human
  Services Web page has resources in Spanish.