What you should know about Pandemic Influenza

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What you should know about Pandemic Influenza
Adapted from Huron County Health Unit
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DONT YOU THINK YOURE TAKING THIS INFLUENZA TOO
SERIOUSLY?
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What well cover

• What is pandemic influenza how does it start?
• Whats the difference between the ordinary flu
  and pandemic flu?
• How will LGL Counties be affected?
• What are people doing to prepare for pandemic?
• What can I do to protect/prepare myself?

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What is a pandemic?

• Its about scope world-wide epidemic
• Spreads easily quickly
• Across many regions / countries of the world
• Affects a large percentage of people where it
  hits
• Often the effects are more severe than usual
  (makes people more severely ill, more deaths)

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Progress of a pandemic
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Progress of a pandemic
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Progress of a pandemic
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How does a pandemic start?

• The influenza virus changes every year
• Flu viruses multiply when they infect the host
  (people, birds, pigs)
• It often makes mistakes creating a new virus
• This new virus sometimes spreads more easily or
  can cause more severe illness
• People who have antibodies to the old flu virus
  wont be immune to the new one

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INFLUENZA VIRUS
Neuraminidase (N)
Hemagglutinin (H)
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Whats the differencebetween ordinary fluand
pandemic flu?
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This kind of flu

• Happens ever year.

• A. Ordinary Flu B. Pandemic Flu

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ANSWER

• A. Ordinary flu
• Pandemic Flu happens only 2 or 3 times a century.

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20th Century Flu Strains Pandemics
1918 Spanish Flu
1957 Asian Flu
1968 Hong Kong Flu
H3N2
H2N2
H1N1
H1N1
1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
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This kind of flu

• Usually comes in 2 or 3 waves, several months
  apart. Each wave lasts 2 3 months.

• A. Ordinary Flu B. Pandemic Flu

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ANSWER

• B. Pandemic flu
• Ordinary flu usually occurs each year from
  November to April, then stops.
• Pandemic flu could happen any time of year.

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This kind of flu

• About 10 of people get sick.

• A. Ordinary Flu B. Pandemic Flu

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ANSWER

• A. Ordinary flu
• About 10 of people in Ontario get the ordinary
  flu every year.
• About 35 of people in Ontario might get pandemic
  flu over the course of an outbreak.

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This kind of flu

• Is hardest on the very old, the very young and
  people with certain chronic illnesses.

• A. Ordinary Flu B. Pandemic Flu

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ANSWER

• A. Ordinary flu
• In pandemic flu, people of any age may become
  seriously ill, depending on the virus.

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This kind of flu

• Has drugs that people can take to treat the flu.

• A. Ordinary Flu B. Pandemic Flu

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ANSWER

• A. Ordinary flu
• Anti-viral drugs (like Tamiflu) are used to treat
  people with the flu.
• They may or may not be effective against pandemic
  flu.

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This kind of flu

• Has no vaccine

• A. Ordinary Flu B. Pandemic Flu

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ANSWER

• B. Pandemic flu
• There wont be a vaccine for pandemic flu until
  after it happens.
• We need to know what the pandemic virus looks
  like to develop a vaccine.

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How will LGL Counties be affected?

• Impossible to give absolute numbers
• Planning estimates are based on
• A new virus that spreads easily
• A new virus that causes more severe illness than
  regular flu
• No vaccine available for 4 to 6 months
• Limited amount of anti-viral drugs available

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How will LGL Counties be affected?

• 35 of people will get sick (worst case scenario)
  with the flu
• About 59,674 people
• About ½ of those people will require medical
  attention (need to see their doctor, walk-in
  clinic, flu centre)
• About 31,733 people
• Between 374 and 1,157 people will need to be
  hospitalized
• Between 113 and 293 people will die

Based on 2006 Ministry of Health estimates
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How will LGL Counties be affected?

• Pandemic flu will spread quickly
• Many people will miss work (perhaps as many as
  1/3)
• There will be a large demand for medical services
• There may be shortages of supplies, services
  for individuals and businesses
• Many businesses may close or provide only
  essential services
• Public Health may restrict or cancel public
  gatherings

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What is the health care system doing to prepare?

• Canadian Pandemic Influenza Plan

Ontario Pandemic Influenza Plan
LGL Tri-County Health Plan for an Influenza
Pandemic
Town / Municipalities Emergency Plans
Leeds, Grenville, Lanark District Health Unit
Pandemic Influenza Plan
LGL Health Care Providers Businesses Emergency
/ Pandemic Plans
Personal Emergency Plans for people living in LGL
Counties
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How can I prepare for pandemic flu?

• Get informed and stay informed
• Think about your daily routines have backup
  plans
• Prepare a supply of water, food and medicine at
  home
• Keep useful s and health info handy (check out
  www.pandemic.cpha.ca)
• Share your ideas

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How can I protect myself from pandemic flu?

• Make a habit of good hand cleaning -- Try not to
  touch your nose, mouth and eyes
• Cover your sneeze / cough
• Get a flu shot every year
• Stay home if youre sick and learn how to treat
  the flu at home
• Know when to get medical help

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Stay Informed

• Web-Sites
• LGL District Health Unit www.healthunit.org
• Influenza Bulletins and fact sheets
• Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Website
• www.health.gov.on.ca
• Public Health Agency of Canada Website
• www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/new_e.html
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Website - www.cdc.gov
• World Health Organization Website
• www.who.int

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Stay Informed

• Free telephone advice
• Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000
• Ministry Infoline 1-800-268-1154
• Leeds Grenville Lanark District Health Unit
  toll free 1-800-660-5853

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• Any Questions?

• For more info, contactLeeds, Grenville
  Lanark District Health Unit458 Laurier Blvd.,
  Brockville, ON K6V 7A3613 345-5685 or 1 800
  660-5853
• www.healthunit.org
• Adapted from Huron County Health Unit