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Preparing for Pandemic Influenza Public Health - Seattle & King County

Preparing for Pandemic Influenza Public Health - Seattle & King County . Agenda. Overview History of Pandemics Current Avian Influenza Outbreak Potential Impacts of a Pandemic Preparedness Strategies. Definitions.

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Preparing for Pandemic Influenza Public Health - Seattle & King County

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  1. Preparing for Pandemic InfluenzaPublic Health - Seattle & King County

  2. Agenda • Overview • History of Pandemics • Current Avian Influenza Outbreak • Potential Impacts of a Pandemic • Preparedness Strategies

  3. Definitions • An epidemic - is an increase in disease above what you what would normally expect • A pandemic - is a worldwide epidemic

  4. Why Are We Talking About Pandemic Influenza? • Pandemics are inevitable – occur throughout history at regular intervals • There will be little warning • Outbreaks will occur simultaneously in many areas – everyone is at risk

  5. Why Are We Talking About Pandemic Influenza? • Potential for high levels of: • Sickness and Death • Disruption of critical services • Economic loss • Pandemics can disproportionately effect younger people • Impacts will last for weeks to months

  6. History of Influenza Pandemics

  7. US Deaths in Previous Pandemics • 1918 - 19: 500,000 - 650,000 • 1957- 58: 70,000 • 1968 - 69: 34,000 • Typical annual influenza season: 36,000

  8. 1918 Influenza Pandemic • Spread around the globe in 4 - 6 months • At least 40 - 50 million people died worldwide • Death rate 25 times higher than previous epidemics • Pandemic affected and killed younger, healthy people

  9. Outbreak of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) in Asia

  10. Outbreak of Avian Influenza A (H5N1)

  11. Current Outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N1) Across Several Continents • No sustained person-to-person transmission • Outbreak not controlled • No pre-existing immunity in humans

  12. Outbreak of Avian Influenza A (H5N1)Human Cases Since Dec 2003: Source WHOupdated 2/20/06

  13. Potential Impact of Pandemic Flu Locally

  14. Potential Impacts of Pandemic Influenza in King County • 245,000 - 612,000 clinically ill • 180,000 - 470,000 outpatient medical visits • 24,400 - 57,200 people hospitalized • Up to 11,500 dead

  15. Pandemic Impact Health Care System • Extreme staffing shortages • Shortage of beds, facility space, supplies • Hospital morgues, Medical Examiner and mortuary services overwhelmed Infrastructure • Significant disruption of transportation, public works, commerce, utilities, energy, and communications, emergency response

  16. Pandemic Impact Government and Businesses • High absenteeism – 25%-35% of workforce affected • Challenges getting to / from worksite • Psychological impacts on workforce will be extreme • Economic losses will be extreme and long term

  17. What about antiviral drugs and vaccine? • Antiviral agents • Effective in preventing illness • Can prevent severe complications • May not be effective against pandemic virus • Limited supply • Vaccine • Will take 6-8 months to produce • 2 doses needed

  18. Pandemic Flu Preparedness

  19. Influenza Prevention: What Can We Do? • Stay home when sick • Respiratory & hand hygiene: • Cover your cough • Wash hands and/or use alcohol hand gel • Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth • Plan and Prepare

  20. Key Steps for Preparedness: Service Continuity Planning • Identify a Planning Team • Prioritize Critical Functions • Identify Positions needed to carry out those functions • Identify functions that could be suspended for up to 2 month

  21. Key Steps for Preparedness: Service Continuity Planning • Build depth through cross-training • Plan for alternate work schedules, including shifts • Explore telecommuting capabilities – large scale

  22. Key Steps for Preparedness: Human Resource Management • Maintain a healthy work environment: • Post tips on how to stop the spread of germs how to stay healthy • Promote hand hygiene • Promote respiratory hygiene • Easy availability of alcohol-based hand sanitizers • Adequate air circulation/ventilation

  23. Key Steps for Preparedness: Human Resources Management • Update sick leave and FMLA policies • Encourage/require ill employees stay home • Encourage employees to develop an individual and family disaster plan • Employee Assistance

  24. Key Steps for Preparedness: Communication • Tell your workforce about the threat of a pandemic – and the steps being taken to prepare • Establish ongoing and frequent communication with employees and clients– before, during and after an event • Schedule crisis communication training

  25. Pandemic Influenza “Don’t worry about it, it’s probably just a head cold.”

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